Postgame Recap | Mtn. Brook rallies from 19 down for region win
Birmingham, AL – The Mtn. Brook Spartans (7-2) (5-2) overcame a 19 point deficit to earn a 25-19 win over region foe Huffman Friday night in Birmingham.
The Huffman lit up the scoreboard early, punching the ball into the endzone after converting a fake punt on the Vikings opening possession. After forcing the Spartans to punt on their first possession the Vikings struck again as Nyre Holden hauled in a 75 yard Anthony Wiggins pass putting Huffman up 13-0 early in the opening stanza.
The Viking defense stepped up in the waning moments of the first as Antonio Robinson picked off a Hamp Sission pass returning it 36 yards in to the endzone. 12 minutes into the contest the eighth ranked Spartans trailed the 2-6 Vikings 19-0.
After a quiet beginning to the second quarter the Spartan offense came to life driving the ball to the Viking one yard line. A.J. Gates capped the drive with a one yard bolt into the endzone cutting the Huffman lead to 19-7. With under 20 seconds remaining before the break Harold Joiner took a wildcat snap, handed the ball to Wilson Higgins who lofted a halfback pass into the endzone to a streaking Hamp Sission shrinking the Viking lead to five.
After the break the Spartans put together a 20 play drive culminating in a 27 yard Atkins Roberts field goal. The 19 point Huffman lead now stood at two, 19-17. The Mtn. Brook comeback was completed as senior running back Harold Joiner scampered into the endzone from just inside the 10 yardline. Joiner snagged a Sission two point conversion pass seconds later to put the visitors up 25-19 midway through the fourth.
Huffman threatened late, driving to the Spartan four yard line before being turned away on forth and four as quarterback King Williams was sacked by Clark Griffin.
“It’s good to have these tests where we have to come back on the road and get some good experience for the first round.” Mtn. Brook head coach Chris Yeager said following the Spartans comeback.
Senior quarterback Hamp Sission finished the contest with 196 yards through the air completing 13 of 23 passes. He added 49 rushing yards on 11 carries, caught a touchdown pass and tossed one interception.
Running backs Harold Joiner and A.J. Gates score a touchdown apiece. Receiver Hamp Green hauled in five catches for 71 yards.
Mtn. Brook travels to Lawson Field Thursday night to take on the defending 6A state champion Ramsay Rams (5-4). Huffman hosts the Bessemer City Purple Tigers (4-5) to closeout the regular season.
