Postgame Recap | Hoover slips past Spain Park 27-24

Hoover, AL – The second ranked Hoover Bucs (3-1) (2-0) slipped past their sixth ranked arch-rival Spain Park Jaguars (3-1) (1-1), in come-from-behind fashion, 27-24 Friday night at Jaguar Stadium.  

The nationally ranked Bucs struck first with an electric 58 yard punt return from Auburn commit George Pickens.  The Jags returned the favor two minutes later with an electric play of their own as quarterback Braxton Barker connected with Jalen McMillian on a 70 yard pass play to even the score at 7 apiece to end the first period. 

Hoover’s Larry McCammon put the Bucs back on top early in the second, scoring the visitors only rushing score of the night as he scampered into the endzone from inside the five yard line.  Nebraska commit Barret Pickering’s second PAT gave the Bucs a 14-7 advantage with just over eight minutes to play in the first half. 

Spain Park kicker Cole Starr pulled the Jags within four points on their next possession splitting the uprights from 30 yards out and cutting the Buccaneer lead to 14-10 going into the break.

Midway through the third Pickering answered Starr’s fieldgoal with a 26 yard boot of his own to extend the Hoover lead back to a touchdown, 17-10.  Just over a minute later, Barker hooked up with Michael Rogers on a 17 yard pitch and catch even the score at 17 with just over four minutes to remaining in the third.  Two minutes later the Jags lit up the scoreboard again, this time to take their first lead of the contest as running back Jalen Henderson dove across the goal line from just outside the five putting the Jaguars on top 24-17 with 122 ticks remaining in the third quarter. 

A second Pickering field goal conversion, this one from 35 yards out, pulled the Bucs to within four, 24-20 with 10 minutes to play.  

First year starting quarterback Jalen Parker put the Bucs on his shoulders with four minutes and change remaining, in enemy territory, driving the visitors down the field on a drive that included a clutch pass to convert a 3rd and 25 and ended with a go-ahead 25 yard touchdown pass.   Parker connected with Shedrick Jackson from 25 yards out and just over a minute to play to give the Bucs their second straight win over their cross-town rivals 27-24.  The Bucs now hold a 14-3, all-time, advantage of the Jags in a series that began play in 2002.

Hoover quarterback Jalen Parker completed 13 of 21 passes for 227 yards and one touchdown.  Shedrick Jackson hauled in three catches for 65 yards including a 25 yard game winning touchdown grab.  Larry McCammon lead the Bucs on the ground with 154 yards on 17 carries and a score.  Barret Pickering accounted for nine of the Bucs 27 points, scoring on two of three field goals of 26 and 35 yards and connecting on three PAT’s.  

Spain Park’s Braxton Barker connected on 22 of 34 pass attempts 298 yards and two touchdowns through the air.  Jalen McMillan hauled in nine catches for 140 yards including a 70 yard scoring grab from Barker.  Cole Starr was true on a 30 yard first half fieldgoal and added two extra points. 

The win improves the Bucs to 3-1 on the season, 2-0 in region play, while dripping Spain Park to 3-1 overall, 1-1 in 7A region 3.   

Hoover returns to the Hoover Met this Friday to host the Tuscaloosa County Wildcats (1-3), (0-2).

Spain Park will travel to Over the Mountain rival Mountain Brook (2-2), (0-2).