By Rubin E. Grant
Homewood football coach Ben Berguson had an enjoyable evening watching his team play last Friday night at Pelham.
The Patriots turned in a virtuoso performance, holding the Panthers to only 132 total yards and coming up with two interceptions while recording its first shutout of the season, 28-0.
Homewood (6-2, 5-0) clinched the Class 6A, Region 3 title, its first region title since 2017.
“It was our most complete game of the season in all phases – offense, defense and special teams,” Berguson said. “It was a lot of fun to watch. Everybody was having fun.”
Berguson wasn’t expecting the Patriots to dominate Pelham like it did.
“We were just physical up front on both sides of the ball, so a lot of credit goes to our offensive and defensive lines,” he said. “I was really proud of our defense. Pelham was scoring about 30 points per game and to shut them out was huge. And Woods had a huge game running the football.”
Woods Ray, Homewood’s senior quarterback, ran for 86 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. He scored on runs of 4 and 55 yards, the second coming on a perfectly executed read option. He also completed 10 of 18 passes for 122 yards with an interception.
Rigdon Gibbons and Clay Burdeshaw came up with interceptions for the Patriots.
Homewood wraps up region play Friday, hosting Briarwood at Waldrop Stadium.
The Lions (3-5, 1-4) saw their streak of 29 consecutive postseason appearances come to an end when they lost 16-14 at Benjamin Russell last Friday in Alexander City. The last time Briarwood failed to reach the playoffs was in 1992.
In the loss, Briarwood quarterback Christopher Vizzina threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Higgins. Vizzina completed 17 of 27 passes for 175 yards but was intercepted four times, two on deflected passes.
Even though the game won’t factor in the playoff fates of either team, Berguson is expecting a dogfight.
“Briarwood will come up and play us tough,” Berguson said. “We have to get ready again. We want to finish up undefeated in the region.”
Hoover Shuts Out Chelsea, Sets Sights on Thompson
Hoover’s defense held Chelsea to 172 total yards, recorded six sacks and forced a fumble in a dominating performance as the Bucs (8-1, 6-0) shut out Chelsea 38-0 in a Class 7A, Region 3 game.
Meanwhile, Hoover’s offense produced 432 yards, 300 in the second half. The Bucs (8-1, 6-0) scored three touchdowns in the third quarter to break the game open after leading 10-0 at halftime.
Freshman quarterback Noah Schuback threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Woolen to spark the third-quarter scoring outbreak. Schuback finished 13 of 22 passing for 186 yards.
Senior running back LaMarion McCammon scored on a 33-yard run in the third. He finished with 138 yards rushing on 11 carries and two touchdowns. He scored the Bucs’ only touchdown in the first half on a 1-yard run.
Backup quarterback Jonah Winston completed the Bucs’ third-quarter onslaught with a 37-yard scoring run.
The Bucs’ victory sets up a showdown at Thompson (7-2, 6-0) for the region championship Friday night.
“It’s going to be fun with the region championship on the line,” Hoover coach Wade Waldrop said. “We’ve all been practicing for 13 weeks and now it’s coming down to this one. You couldn’t ask for anything more. I know both communities and both teams will be locked in.
“I like the fact that we’re playing on the road, getting on that bus and getting focused while we’re riding down. It’s going to be a great atmosphere to be playing in.
“We’ve been sloppy the last two weeks with turnovers and penalties, so we’ve got to get that straightened out.”
Gamble Pays Off Big for Spartans
Junior running back Cole Gamble had a career night as Mountain Brook (7-1, 5-0) rolled to a 56-14 Class 6A, Region 5 victory at Mortimer Jordan.
Gamble rushed for 192 yards and five touchdowns, including four in the first half. Gamble scored on runs of 1, 4, 2, 2 and 72 yards.
Junior wide receiver Clark Sanderson had a 3-yard scoring run; senior quarterback John Colvin threw a 53-yard touchdown pass to Jason Beatty; and backup quarterback John Cooper scored on a 2-yard run.
Mountain Brook will host Gardendale (6-2, 5-0) for the region championship Friday.
Vestavia Hills Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive
Junior quarterback John Paul Head accounted for 303 yards total offense and five touchdowns as Vestavia Hills routed Oak Mountain 42-21 in Class 7A, Region 3 action at Heardmont Park.
Head scored on runs of 9, 1, 4 and 29 yards and threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Tucker Smith. Head had 142 yards rushing on 13 carries and completed 14 for 21 passing for 161 yards.
The Rebels (4-4, 3-3) can clinch a playoff berth Friday at home against Tuscaloosa County (5-3, 3-3).
“If you would’ve told us before the season that you’ve got one game to get into the playoffs on Week 9 on your senior night at home against T-County, I think everybody would’ve signed up,” Vestavia Hills coach Robert Evans said.
Elsewhere, Spain Park (2-6, 1-5) suffered a 35-16 setback at home to Hewitt-Trussville in a Class 7A, Region 3 game.
Spain Park’s scores came on Derick Shanks’ 19-yard run, Alex Lloyd’s 35-yard field goal and Brock Bradley’s 81-yard pass to Mitchell Frazier.
John Carroll Catholic (1-7) fell 48-7 at Jasper (5-3) in the first meeting ever between the two schools.