Briarwood storms past Shades Valley 42-19

Irondale, AL – The Briarwood Christian Lions knocked off the Shades Valley Mounties 42-19 Friday night at the Frank Nix Athletic Complex.  

The victory improved Briarwood to 6-1 on the season while placing the Lions on top of 6A Region 5 at 4-0, one game ahead of the third ranked Mountain Brook Spartans.

The loss dropped the Mounties to 0-6, 0-3 in region play.  

The region rivals traded touchdowns and turnovers on their first two possessions carrying a 7-7 tie late into the second period until Mounties quarterback Earl Woods connected with Alfonso Weathers for a 43 yard score.  A blocked extra point put the home team up 13-7 with just under two minutes remaining before the break.  

A back and forth first half was about to take a hard turn in favor of Matthew Forester’s Lions.  Briarwood quarterback Christopher Vizzina connected with Brooks Donnelly for six, a BCS point after gave the visitors a one point edge with 0:27 seconds to play in the half.  

The Mounties were unable to secure the catch on the ensuing kick setting the Lions offense up at the Shades Valley 15 yard line with just 20 ticks left on the clock.  One play later Vizzina and Donnelly hooked up again giving the Lions a 21-13 halftime advantage. 

The Lions didn’t waste any time lighting up the scoreboard after the break. On the second play of the second half Luke Reebals bolted 70 yards for another Briarwood score.  

The Lions scored three touchdowns in the span of 87 seconds to go up 28-13. 

Briarwood added two more second half touchdowns and a pair of interceptions courtesy of Seth Alford and Haddon Stubbs to close out the contest.

Sophomore Lions signal caller Christopher Vizzina finished the game with 167 yards through the air, connecting on 9-of-19 passes with three scores and an interception while adding 48 yards on the ground. 

Luke Reebals lead the Lions on the ground with 205 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown.  The junior hauled in a pair of receptions for 25 yards. 

Shades Valley travels to Waldrop Stadium next Friday night to take on the 5-1, 3-0 Homewood Patriots.

Briarwood plays host to Mountain Brook (5-1, 3-0) in what will likely be a battle for the Region 5 crown.