By Lee Davis
It seems like we’ve been waiting forever, but the Alabama high school football playoffs finally begin this weekend.
Last week’s season finales were important, but they had the feel of NFL exhibition games in that they meant nothing in the region standings. Now we are back to business, and the first round – as always – is intriguing and fraught with danger for front-runners.
Spain Park enters the post-season as the Class 7A Region Three champion and the classification’s second-ranked team. The Jaguars recovered from a heartbreaking opening loss to Austin to win nine straight games, including an impressive 17-0 shutout over defending state champ Hoover. Spain Park will be heavily favored against Hazel Green in the opening round and, if it survives, will meet the Hewitt-Trussville-James Clemens winner. The possibility of a rematch with Hoover or Vestavia Hills could take place in the next round, but it’s far too early to speculate. Suffice it to say the Jags are ranked second in the state for a reason and should be on anyone’s short list of teams with a shot at the Class 7A title.
Hoover showed signs of vulnerability this season, suffering region losses to Spain Park and Vestavia Hills in October. As anyone who follows high school football in Alabama understands, the Bucs have won three consecutive Class 7A titles by excelling in November. Hoover is a prohibitive favorite against Region Four’s Buckhorn, and it will face the Vestavia Hills-Bob Jones winner in the second round. The Rebels’ 20-13 upset of the Bucs was Vestavia’s biggest win in years, and Hoover would like nothing more than a rematch. Despite the Rebels’ earlier victory, the Bucs probably would be favored again. It bears remembering that Vestavia is always dangerous in those situations. At the same time, while this has been a comparatively down year at Hoover, it would be huge mistake to say that Coach Josh Niblett’s team can’t win a fourth title.
Vestavia bounced back strongly from last season’s 3-7 mark, putting together an 8-2 record that included the upset of Hoover. The Rebels face top-ranked Bob Jones in the first round, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Vestavia pull off another upset. As Rebel running back Walker Minor pointed out after the Hoover game, Vestavia is at its best coming from the underdog position. Additionally, the Rebels usually play well in the post-season against teams from North Alabama. If Coach Buddy Anderson’s squad can get past the Patriots, there’s no telling how far it can go.
In Class 6A, Homewood, as co-champion of Region Five, faces Robert E. Lee of Huntsville in the first round. If victorious, Coach Ben Berguson’s team will in all probability draw defending Class 6A champ Clay-Chalkville in the second round. The Cougars, led by former Oak Mountain coach Jerry Hood, haven’t lost a game since 2013 and are probably the state’s strongest reigning high school juggernaut. The Patriots would undoubtedly be an underdog, but at least they would have the opportunity to face the best team in the classification.
Briarwood, qualifying for the playoffs with a 4-6 overall record, will have a tough row to hoe. If the Lions can get past Region Seven champion Fort Payne in the first round, they would face either Hillcrest of Tuscaloosa or Northview of Dothan a week later. Anything beyond that, and Briarwood might catch lightning in a bottle.
It was a disappointing year for Oak Mountain, Mountain Brook and John Carroll Catholic as all three failed to qualify for the playoffs. The Eagles – coming off an impressive 10-2 mark in 2014 – fell to 5-5, as Coach Cris Bell continues to build his program toward some consistency.
The Spartans suffered through another uncharacteristic 3-7 season and once again had trouble closing the deal in a few close games. Mountain Brook isn’t that far from returning to its accustomed perch in the playoffs, but it still has to get over the proverbial hump.
John Carroll didn’t produce a win in 2015, but there is widespread optimism in the Cavalier nation that better times aren’t that far away.
Those three programs can start preparing for 2016. Meanwhile, Spain Park, Hoover, Vestavia, Homewood and Briarwood still have plenty for which to play. My guess is that one of these teams is going to bring home a blue trophy.
Mitchell’s Place, Again
Mountain Brook won its second consecutive Class 7A state volleyball championship last week, ending the careers of three seniors – Sara Carr, Sara Chandler Mitchell and Payton Selman – on the highest note possible.
Even days after claiming the title, Mitchell couldn’t quite believe what had happened.
“Everything is still surreal,” she said, when contacted the following Saturday, which happened to fall on Halloween. “We were confident we could win, but even when we came back to school on Friday, it hadn’t sunk in.”
Mitchell believed that the simple virtue of hard work was the key to the Spartan championship.
“We had fun, but we worked so hard in practice,” she explained. “Coach (Haven) O’Quinn always had us simulate pressure situations that were sure to come up in a close game, so we were ready for anything.”
Life without volleyball will be an adjustment, Mitchell admitted. “I think the fact my high school career is over won’t sink in until Monday when we turn in our uniforms,” she said. “It’s going to be strange not to have a practice or game. I guess that’s part of life.”
Mitchell said she didn’t have any plans for Halloween. “I don’t know,” she said laughing. “I don’t really have a costume yet.”
Maybe Mitchell should have considered wearing her volleyball uniform one last time. After all, for Class 7A opponents, there’s hasn’t been a more frightening sight in the past two years than a Mountain Brook volleyball player. ϖ
