Sarah Finnegan
Briarwood vs Mortimer Jordan 2016
Action in an AHSAA Class 5A third round playoff game between Mortimer Jordan and Briarwood on Friday, November 18, 2016, at Jimmie Trotter Stadium in Kimberly, Alabama.
The Briarwood Christian School football team is on to the semifinal round for the 10th time in program history.
According to the Alabama High School Football Historical Society, the Lions are 5-4 in their previous nine ventures, the last one being a 16-14 loss to Hartselle in 2011.
This year, Briarwood will face off against a region foe in Wenonah. The Lions gave the Dragons their only Class 5A, Region 5 loss this fall, as Briarwood came back on the road to win, 15-14, on Sept. 9.
Wenonah went up 14-0 in the first quarter in the game, before the Lions’ defense slammed the door. Briarwood cut into the lead with a touchdown in the third quarter, and scored once more midway through the fourth quarter.
Briarwood executed the two-point conversion, and held on for the win.
The meeting was the first on the gridiron between the two programs.
The two teams feature solid offenses and dominant defenses. Both teams are allowing fewer than 13 points per game. Wenonah’s offense may have a slight edge, having scored at least 42 points in four straight games. Briarwood averages 28.5 points per game.
Both teams come into the game on Friday at 7 p.m. at Lions Pride Stadium with significant momentum. Briarwood has not lost since the season opener against Chelsea, ripping off 12 straight wins since.
Wenonah’s only other loss came to 6A Bessemer City, and the Dragons are coming off a masterful 49-28 win over No. 1 Scottsboro in the quarterfinals.
The Lions have experience playing a team twice in a season as recently as last week, as Briarwood shut down Mortimer Jordan’s power running attack en route to a 15-0 win.
The winner of Friday’s game will face the winner between Beauregard and Jackson in the Super 7 at Auburn on Thursday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m.
