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JR Tran-Reno makes a play during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Briarwood takes the field during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Noah Nall kicks an extra point during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Briarwood defense stops Valley during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Cade Dickinson makes a tackle during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Noah Nall punts the ball during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Briarwood celebrates a touchdown during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Cade Dickinson scoops up a blocked kick and runs it in for a touchdown during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Briarwood's marching band and dancers performed during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Briarwood's marching band and dancers performed during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Briarwood's marching band and dancers performed during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Briarwood's defense holds Valley during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Luke Prewett runs out after a long run during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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JR Tran-Reno makes a catch during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Briarwood takes the field during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Briarwood scores a touchdown during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Luke Prewett runs the ball during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Luke Prewett runs the ball during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Luke Prewett nearly goes down, but recovers and runs for a touchdown during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Luke Prewett nearly goes down, but recovers and runs for a touchdown during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Briarwood's cheerleaders cheer during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Briarwood's cheerleaders cheer during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Luke Prewett returns a punt during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Cade Dickinson runs the ball during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Luke Prewett celebrates a touchdown during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Kadarell Hutchinson gets tackled during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Briarwood's defense stops Willie Baker during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Briarwood defense stops Darrell Dunn during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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JR Tran-Reno and Luke Prewett celebrate a touchdown during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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JR Tran-Reno and Luke Prewett celebrate a touchdown during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Briarwood's defense holds Valley during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Briarwoods marching band and dancers performed during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Jonah Caroll looks to pass during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
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Luke Prewett runs the ball during a Class 5A first round playoff game between Valley and Briarwood on Friday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
BIRMINGHAM -- When there are 10 touchdowns in a high school football game, fans usually figure the offense had a big night.
But that was not the case for the sixth-ranked Briarwood Christian School team in its 42-28 victory over Valley Friday in the first round of the AHSAA Class 5A playoffs, as the Lions scored twice on special teams.
It was a particularly good night for Lions defensive backs named Cade. Cade Dickinson grabbed an interception, and nearly got a second late in the game. Fellow DB Cade Mango also came up with a pick. But Dickinson also scored when he picked up a Rams punt that had been blocked by Matthew McKenna, running it back 39 yards for the touchdown.
That block was the first of two for McKenna, and Briarwood added a blocked field goal attempt when lineman Dalton Brooks swatted it down at the end of Valley’s first drive of the game.
That’s not to say that the offense didn’t have its moments, especially JR Tran-Reno. The Vanderbilt-bound senior, who alternated between quarterback (with Jonah Carroll) and running back, scored four touchdowns in the game.
But the most spectacular was not on offense. Rather, it occurred on a 92-yard kickoff return that came right after the Rams had scored after intercepting a Carroll pass.
Lions coach Fred Yancey mentioned before the game that the Rams’ kicking game was better than any his team had faced all year. And as the contest wore on, it was obvious that was a point of emphasis during the previous week’s practices — an emphasis that paid off handsomely.
Briarwood capitalized on the blocked field goal with a 46-yard run by Luke Prewett, which led to a 5-yard touchdown run by Tran-Reno. Tran-Reno struck again in the last minute of the first period on a 1-yard charge, which was set up by his 42-yard pass reception from Carroll.
Prewett had a great first half, scoring on a 45-yard run, but his night ended 88 seconds after halftime with an injury. Yancey said afterward that the particulars were unknown, but Prewett might be held out of next week’s game.
Despite being dominated by the Lions’ starters, Valley did not give up after trailing 28-7 at intermission and 42-14 after three quarters. The Rams scored twice and only allowed Briarwood to have the ball for three offensive plays in the final period, thanks to recovering two onside kicks. But a four-TD deficit was simply too much to make up.
“Tonight we sputtered around some, but we did some really nice things,” Yancey said after the game. “Luke did real well until he got hurt, and JR just did wonderful things all night long. Luke and JR sparked our whole night. But we need to make points on defense if we’re going to have a good defense.”
And as for Dickinson: “He’s a real ball hawk. I’m not surprised that he got some good picks,” Yancey said.
Prewett led the rushing attack with 90 yards on 11 carries, all but one in the first half. His replacement, Alex Key, added 47 yards on seven carries. Carroll was 3-of-9 passing with two interceptions and for 65 yards.
Valley quarterback Eli Culpepper threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score. Freshman running back BJ Baker keyed the Rams offense with 142 yards and a 1-yard touchdown run.
The victory moves the Lions on to the second round, which means a trip to Mobile to take on Vigor, ranked second in 5A by the state’s sports writers. Vigor defeated Central-Tuscaloosa 45-8 in its first-round game.
“Vigor has a really good team, so we’re going to have to look at everything to improve in all phases,” Yancey said.
