Postgame Recap | Mtn Brook slips past Spain Park in double OT
Mtn. Brook, AL – The Mtn. Brook Spartans climbed back into the winning column with a thrilling 51-50 double overtime win over Spain Park Friday night at Spartan Stadium.
After a scoreless first quarter the 3-2 Jaguars lit up the scoreboard first as quarterback Braxton Barker connected with Kenyon Hines from inside the five yard line. Cole Starr’s point after gave the visitors a 7-0 advantage less than a minute into the contest.
Midway through the quarter the Spartans answered back as senior running back Harold Joiner bolted into the endzone from just out side the Spain Park 35. Aiden Hines kick tied the game at seven with just over six minutes to play before the break.
Shawn Raney’s Jags took a seven point advantage into the locker room following a 72 yard Barker to Jalen Henderson scoring strike on Spain Park’s next possession.
Trailing 14-7, Mtn. Brook got back on the board early in the third on the legs of quarterback Hamp Sisson. The senior capped the Spartans first drive of the second half diving in for a seven yard score, evening the game at 14.
The Spartans extended their lead to two scores six minutes later as Sission connected with Higgins from 27 yards out. Hood’s third PAT of the evening put the home team up by a touchdown with three minutes and change remaining in the third.
Trailing 21-14 with 27 ticks remaining in the third Spain Park running back D’arie Johnson evened the game at 21 on a 15 yard run. Johnson struck again midway through the final period diving in from inside the one. Starr’s first miss of the night gave the Jags a 27-21 advantage with just under seven minutes to play.
Joiner capped the Spartans next drive with a one yard score of his own two minutes later putting Mtn. Brook back up by a point.
Not to be outdone, Spain Park’s Michael Rogers hauled in a 14 yard Braxton Barker pass to pull the Jags back within striking distance. After a failed two point conversion attempt, Spain Park lead 33-28 with just under a minute and a half in regulation.
The Spartans looked to finally have the game in hand as Sission capped the next Mtn. Brook drive with a 10 yard touchdown scamper followed by a Joiner to Higgins two point conversion strike putting the Spartans up 36-33.
Jags and Spartans were tied at 36 heading into OT.
Mtn. Brook was true on their first possession as Joiner scored from 10 yards out. Hoods kick put the Spartans up 43-36.
Spain Park answered the bell on their first offensive possession of overtime on a Barker to JoJo Dennis touchdown pass. Starr’s extra point split the uprights evening the game at 43 exiting the first overtime period.
The Jags made the most of the next possession as Jacorrian Wrenn scampered in from just outside the 3 giving the visitors a 50-43 advantage.
Mountain Brook answered back quickly with a touchdown of their own as Sission connected with senior Hamp Green. The call of the night, and perhaps the Spartans season came as Mtn. Brook head coach Chris Yeager decided to win or loose the game on the next play.
“We felt like we had enough gas for one more play but probably not four more” Yeager said.
Following a timeout Wilson Higgins hauled in a Hamp Sission pass in the corner of the end zone to give the Spartans the Win 51-50.
Sission finished the game with 243 yards through the air, completing 17 of 21 passes and tossing two touchdown passes. On the ground, the senior signal caller ran for just over 80 yards and added two rushing scores.
The win, Mtn. Brook’s second in a row over the Jaguars, dropped Spain Park to 3-2, 1-2 in region play, with games remaining against Thompson, Oak Mountain, Huffman and Tuscaloosa County.
The Spartans improved to 3-2, 1-2, in 7A region 3.
Mtn, Brook takes the week off before jumping back in to region play October 6th in Northport against the Tuscaloosa County Wildcats (1-4).
Spain Park also has a bie in week five, the Jaguars return to the field in two weeks on the road against the Huffman Vikings (3-2).
