Postgame Recap | Hoover holds on to defeat Mtn Brook 31-21
Mountain Brook, AL – The defending 7A state champion Hoover Bucs (2-1) (1-0) held off a late push by the surging Mountain Brook Spartans (2-1) (0-1) to get their first region win of the season, 31-21 Friday night at Spartan Stadium.
The Spartans forced two Hoover turnovers in the forth quarter, each with a chance to take the lead, but the Buccaneer defense tightened holding the ninth ranked Spartans out out of the endzone while adding a score of their own.
The Bucs jumped on the board early, as Jacquez Allen ran for 52 yards on the first play of the game setting up a Larry McCammon touchdown run, from inside the five, just over a minute into the contest.
Hoover quarterback Jalen Parker threw touchdown strikes to Shedrick Jackson and Nick Davis while Barret Pickering nailed a 23 yard field goal to account for the Bucs 24 first half points.
Mountain Brook’s A.J. Gates added the Spartans only score of the first half, bolting into the endzone from 26 yards out.
After the break, the Spartans offense owned the late third and early fourth quarters. Mountain Brook quarterback Hamp Sisson scored the third period’s only points running into the endzone on fourth down to draw the Spartans within two scores 24-14.
On the next Mountain Brook possession, junior running back A.J. Gates slashed his way to a 54 yard score pulling the Spartans within a touchdown with just under a quarter to play.
Sisson’s third fourth down run of the night was not as successful as his previous two which resulted in a conversion and a score. This time around Hoover’s Greg Russell nailed the senior signal caller giving this ball back to the Hoover offense.
The Buccaneer offense was unable to put the home team away on their next drive as Spartans snatched the ball away for the second time of the half as Sean Dowd recover a Hoover fumble.
The Spartan offense was unable to get anything going after the take away giving the ball back to the defending state champion Bucs. With 4:20 to play Hoover’s Vonte Brackett put the game on ice, scoring from just outside the 10 yard line putting the Bucs up 31-21 and giving the Bucs their fourth consecutive win over the Spartans.
Hoover senior quarterback Jalen Parker ended the night with 178 total yards and two TD’s through the air while compleating 16 of 24 passes. Bucs receiver and Auburn commit Shedrick Jackson caught eight passes for 100 yards and one touchdown reception.
Mountain Brook’s Harold Joiner posted his third consecutive 100 yard rushing performance of the season racking up 132 yards on 21 carries. A.J. Gates polled up 120 yards on the ground scoring on two of his nine carries.
Both top ten squads hit the road this Friday night to continue 7A region 3 play. Mountain Brook travels to Alabaster to take on the third ranked Thompson Warriors (2-0). Hoover visits cross-town rival and seventh ranked Spain Park (3-0).
