6A No. 2 Mountain Brook slips past Briarwood 17-7

Birmingham, AL – The second ranked Mountain Brook Spartans held on to defeat the Briarwood Christian Lions 17-7 Thursday night in North Shelby County.  

The victory improved the Spartans to 6-1 overall, 4-0 in region play in what will likely prove to be a battle for the 6A region 5 title.  Briarwood slipped to 6-2, 4-1.  

Mountain Brook now holds a 2-1 series advantage over the Lions.  The last time the Over the Mountain squads meet on the gridiron, in 1993, Briarwood was competing in class 3A. 

Christopher Wright put the Spartans on the board early, capping Mountain Brook’s opening drive with a 40 yard touchdown run.  Reed Harradine split the uprights from 36 yards out to give the Spartans a 10-0 advantage after a fast paced first half.  

Briarwood pulled to within a field goal with just under five minutes remaining in the third as Christopher Vizzina connected with Luke Reebals on a 47 yard scoring strike cutting the Spartan lead to 10-7.

With a minute to play in the third quarter Mountain Brook’s Strother Gibbs called his own number capping a 65 yard Mountain Brook drive with a score from inside the Lion five yard line in what would put the game away for the visitors.  

Spartans senior signal caller Strother Gibbs finished the night with 107 yards through the air, completing 10-of-14 passes while rushing for 122 yards and a score on 24 attempts. Michael Brogan racked up 84 yards on 19 carries, Christopher Wright added 67 yards on three attempts while hauling in four Gibbs passes for 46 years and a score through the air. 

Briarwood quarterback Christopher Vizzina connected on 12-of-19 throws for 117 yards, a touchdown and three picks while running for 35 yards on eight carries.  Luke Reebals snagged five catches for 72 yards and a touchdown adding 48 yards rushing on 11 carries. 

Mountain Brook returns to action next next Friday night welcoming the Homewood Patriots (5-2, 3-1) to Spartan Stadium.  Briarwood takes the week off before traveling to Waldrop Stadium to face Homewood on October 23rd.