Jimmy J. Mitchell
Briarwood's Luke Prewett (28) during a game between Briarwood and Pleasant Grove on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, at Spartan Stadium in Pleasant Grove.
The Briarwood Christian School football team has one last chance to round into form before the postseason.
The Lions (9-0, 7-0 Class 5A, Region 5) wrapped up a perfect region slate for the second consecutive season with their 21-14 win over Pleasant Grove last week, but they were not happy with the way they played, particularly in the second half.
“I’m not seeing what I want to see out of our team at this point. We haven’t played a good game in weeks and weeks, and we’ve got to improve if we’re ever going to be as good as we wish we were,” head coach Fred Yancey said.
Briarwood will get that chance to improve, as it plays host to Madison Academy on Friday at 7 p.m. at Lions Pride Stadium.
As usual, Madison Academy is a solid Class 4A team and comes in on a seven-game winning streak.
The Mustangs score often, but their strength is on the defensive side of the ball. In their seven-game streak, they have allowed more than seven points just once, so the Briarwood offense will be in for a stern test.
Things looked great last week in the first half, as Briarwood jumped out to a 21-0 lead on Pleasant Grove. Andrew Sherrod blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown, JR Tran-Reno ran 46 yards, and Michael Hiers hit Hudson Hartsfield for an 11-yard score in the first half, But that was all the Lions would put on the scoreboard.
Pleasant Grove scored touchdowns late in the second quarter and early in the third to cut the deficit to 21-14, but both defenses held the rest of the way.
Tran-Reno finished with 126 yards on 22 carries. Hiers was 11-of-17 with one interception for 108 yards. Carson Eddy caught six passes for 41 yards.
Briarwood has already locked itself into a first-round state playoff matchup with Crossville, which will also take place at Lions Pride Stadium on Nov. 10.
- Robert Carter contributed to this report.
