Lions lock up region crown

BIRMINGHAM — For the first time since 2007, Briarwood Christian School is 8-0.

But don’t tell the Lions.

“To be 8-0 is pretty cool, but we’re not near where we want to be,” said senior receiver Carson Eddy.

Top-ranked Briarwood rolled up 445 yards of offense, the defense allowed fewer than four yards per carry and the Lions (8-0, 6-0 Class 5A, Region 5) won 39-14 over visiting Shelby County (3-5, 1-5) on Friday. The win clinches the region championship for the second consecutive season for the Lions.

So what’s the problem?

Briarwood was flagged seven times, three of which were calls for blocks in the back. The offensive line, which was down two starters, allowed three sacks in the first half. 

“We’ve got to climb our way out of some of the mistakes we’re making,” said Briarwood head coach Fred Yancey.

Briarwood led 18-0 at halftime, despite getting off to a slow start. Facing a fourth-and-26, the Lions opted to go for it from the Shelby County 37-yard line. Quarterback Michael Hiers found a wide-open Eddy for the game’s first touchdown. On the Lions’ next offensive snap, junior running back JR Tran-Reno darted 47 yards for a score. Hiers connected with Hudson Hartsfield for a screen that the wideout turned into a 69-yard touchdown just before halftime.

“We know our defense has our back,” Tran-Reno said. “Offensively tonight the scoreboard shows a pretty good win, but we’re not satisfied. I’m not satisfied by my play. That’s a good thing, to want to come back and get better. We’re not satisfied until a state championship.”

Briarwood struggled to sustain drives and avoid long down-and-distances, but scoring plays of 37, 47 and 69 yards had a lot to do with that.

“We’ve had [sustained drives] in the past,” Tran-Reno said. “We have such explosive playmakers around us.”

Hiers was picked off early in the third quarter, which Shelby County’s Tyrese Goodman returned 65 yards for a Wildcats touchdown. Tran-Reno answered on the ensuing drive, capping a five-play, 59-yard drive with a 12-yard scoring run. He scored again on the Lions’ next drive, this time from six yards out. 

Sophomore running back Luke Prewett blazed for a 66-yard touchdown late in the third quarter to put the Lions up 39-6. Shelby County got its lone offensive touchdown on the ensuing drive, a leap over the top of the Briarwood defensive line by quarterback Chadwyn Russ. Lamont Bush scored the two-point conversion. 

For Briarwood, Hiers finished 10-of-17 for 239 yards and two touchdowns against one interception. Tran-Reno did most of his work in the second half, finishing with 11 carries for 151 yards and three touchdowns. Hartsfield reeled in four passes for 121 yards and a score, while Eddy finished with 99 yards on four grabs. Prewett rushed for 78 yards on just three carries.

The Briarwood defense held Shelby County to 220 total yards, only three of which were passing yards. Recovering fumbles for the Lions were Jonathan Hill, Andrew Sherrod and Joseph Munganast. 

For Shelby County, Bush rushed 15 times for 75 yards. Russ racked up 60 yards on 16 carries. 

Finding deficiencies to work on as the playoffs loom is not something that’s needed, but those things tend to bubble to the surface throughout the season.

“Our coaches said it helps us to stay hungry because we know we didn’t play a perfect game tonight,” Eddy said.

Briarwood hits the road for Pleasant Grove next week for its final region contest, while Shelby County travels to Woodlawn. How do the Lions plan to get better?

“We appeal to their goals and their pride and who they care to be,” Yancey said. “They dig down and do it. I thought they did some digging tonight. In the second half there was some resolve that showed up. It wasn’t as bad as I’m feeling, I know that. We didn’t fall apart. They stayed the course and did some nice stuff.”

Tran-Reno said that if Briarwood comes out sluggishly against an athletic Pleasant Grove team, the Lions will struggle. He stood near midfield as a leader of the top-ranked team in Class 5A, and he uttered several words that may just scare the rest of the state. 

“Other than Wenonah, we haven’t really played a full solid game,” he said. “We’re definitely not at our best.”