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Photos By Alex Millender
Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
The Lions confirming the recovered the fumble and won the turnover - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Photos By Alex Millender
Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
Camden Schroeter, DB (6) breaks up the pass down field on a deep crossing route, early in the game - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
The Cheerleaders Stunting and keeping enthusiasm up in the Briarwood Fans section - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
Jamison Barnes, QB (12) hands the ball off to Jackson Reyer, RB (8) as the O Line opens up a huge hole for him - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
John Campbell, WR (3) deliverying the pass to Canale on a flee flicker - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
Sam Canale, WR (26) catches the deep ball for a long first down to setup a first half TD - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
John Campbell, WR (3) gets up after getting his helmet stripped during a second effort attempt to cross the goalline into the end zone - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
Coach Matthew Forester asking for some clarification on the previous play during a timeout - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
Isaac Kerley and Will Berryman celebratte after Kerley's TD - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
The Lions' halftime show starts off with a bang and some smooth rythm - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
Flute Soloist, Peyton Davis, performs beautifully in Briarwood's halftime show - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
Vocal Soloist, Beccah Neugent, belts it during Briarwood's intense halftime show - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
Jamison Barnes, QB (12) directing blockers as he clears the line on a scramble - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
Cooper Johnson, DB (8) defends the pass - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
Griff Schmidt breaks free for the first down - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
John Campbell receiving the ball for the TD - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
Briarwood's Student Section was intense as they watched the Lions dominate the turf - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
Camden Schroeter, DB (6) getting tangled up with the Moody Receiver for while defending the deep ball - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
Briarwood Head Trainer, Kyle Southall, keeping the players hydrated late in the game - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
Gage Nasworthy, LB (16) chases down the Moody Receiver - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
The team celebrate the big win with the Band and the Fight Song - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
Coach Matthew Forester being interviewed by the press after the big win in the Game of the Week, a rematch of their playoff loss to end the 2025 season - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
The Drum Core and the Cheerleaders hype the student section after halftime - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
- in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
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Briarwood at Moody - Football - 2026 Week 1
Jamison Barnes, QB (12) searches for an open receiver under pressure early in the game - in Briarwood's 35-7 win at Moody, on Friday, August 21, 2026. Photos by Alex Millender
Briarwood Christian School's football team turned a scoreless first quarter into a dominant victory, riding four different rushing touchdowns to a 35-7 win over Moody on Friday night.
The Lions' defense set the tone from the opening series, forcing a three-and-out on Moody's first possession. Briarwood turned the ball over on a fumble on its ensuing drive, but the defense answered again, forcing a turnover on downs to get the ball back.
Briarwood's offense made the most of its next opportunity. Facing fourth down, the Lions ran a trick play, with receiver John Campbell connecting with receiver Sam Canale on pass to keep the drive alive, and Barnes capped it a few plays later with a 5-yard touchdown run to make it 7-0.
Ben Reynolds broke a 35-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0, and Isaac Kerley's 1-yard score before halftime made it 21-0 at the break.
Barnes added his second touchdown run of the night, a 13-yarder, to open the third-quarter scoring, and he found Campbell for a 20-yard touchdown pass later in the quarter to push the lead to 35-0.
"We've got to get our pass protection a little better," Briarwood head coach Matthew Forester said. "But man, when you can add a running quarterback to the mix, it makes you incredibly dangerous."
Defensively, Ken Azar and Gage Nasworthy each recorded a sack, and William Dedmon recovered a fumble as the Lions' defense kept Moody off the scoreboard until the fourth quarter, when the Blue Devils scored on a 14-yard touchdown pass.
Barnes finished with 99 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries to go with 40 passing yards, while Reynolds added 63 yards on eight carries. Jackson Reyer chipped in 77 yards on 14 carries. Canale led all receivers with three catches for 34 yards.
The win is Briarwood's first season-opening victory in five years and avenges a playoff loss on the same field a season ago. Moody went on to win the Class 5A state championship after knocking Briarwood out in the quarterfinals. Moody is now in its first season under head coach Kyle Tatum, a former Briarwood assistant.
"I've got 28 seniors, most of them played last year," Forester said. "But again, scheduling this game wasn't about that. It was about Coach Tatum and what a great man he is. I want to play non-region opponents that I trust and I believe in."
Ethan Ballenger hit all five of his extra points and Harrison Hebert averaged 42 yards on five punts, as the Lions impressed in all three phases.
Briarwood returns home to Lions Pride Stadium next week to host Homewood in a non-region matchup. Homewood knocked off John Carroll 28-7 on Friday night to open the year.
"Coach [Ben] Berguson does an amazing job at Homewood," Forester said. "Year in, year out, they're always going deep in the playoffs. So I'm super excited that we get to play a good Homewood team."
Jags hang on
Spain Park earned a 17-13 win over Sparkman on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.
Sparkman jumped on the board with a touchdown with 2:40 remaining in the first quarter, going ahead 7-0. Spain Park responded on the ensuing drive, as Nash Davis found Sawyer Scott on a 7-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-7 with 9:43 to play in the second quarter.
Sparkman reclaimed the lead later in the quarter, as a long pass set up a 13-yard touchdown run by the Senators' quarterback. With the missed extra point, Sparkman's lead was 13-7.
The Jags scored in the final minute of the half, as Nash Davis hit CJ Davis on a crossing route for a 14-yard touchdown, to make it 14-13.
Garrett Hoffman's 31-yard field goal was the only scoring in the final two quarters.
Spain Park hosts Bessemer City next Friday night. Bessemer City knocked off Pell City on Friday.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Oak Mountain RB Kentrell Tolbert (1) runs the football during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Photo by Todd Lester
Oak Mountain DB Clay Mills (5) returns a kickoff during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Photo by Todd Lester
An Oak Mountain cheerleader during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain student section during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain QB Charlie Vacarella (2) looks to pass during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain RB Kentrell Tolbert (1) runs the football during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain DB Cooper Campbell (29) makes a tackle during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain QB Charlie Vacarella (2) attempts a pass during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain QB Charlie Vacarella (2) scores a touchdown during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain students during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain DE Peyton Gamble (4) sacks the quarterback during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain DB Cooper Campbell (29) makes a tackle during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain RB Judson Sachs (7) runs the football during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain QB Charlie Vacarella (2) converts a 2-point conversion during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain RB Kentrell Tolbert (1) and Oak Mountain QB Charlie Vacarella (2) celebrate a touchdown during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain DT James McCallister (48) and Oak Mountain LB Keenan Wolf (6) combine for a sack during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain WR Okoye Walker (0) fights off defenders during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain DT James McCallister (48) and Oak Mountain DE Peyton Gamble (4) look to sack the Pelham quarterback during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain QB Charlie Vacarella (2) looks to escape the rush during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain WR Ham Labree (22) during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain WR Isaac Booth (5) looks to make a tackle during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain DB Deacon Brewer (3) makes a tackle during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain QB Charlie Vacarella (2) runs the football during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain head coach Jason Kervin during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain QB Brooks Denard (10) hangs onto the Pelham QB during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain DB Clay Mills (5) returns a kickoff for a touchdown during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Oak Mountain RB Kentrell Tolbert (1) runs the football during a game between Pelham and Oak Mountain on August 2, 2026, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
Eagles fall in wild one
Oak Mountain High School's football team put up 38 points in a wild season-opening loss to Pelham on Friday night, a 45-38 defeat at Heardmont Park.
Pelham raced to a 14-0 lead behind two Dylan Smith touchdown passes to Marcus Arnold, including a 71-yarder, before Oak Mountain answered with three straight touchdowns, two from Charlie Vacarella, to take a 24-14 edge. Pelham trimmed it to 24-17 by halftime, but Clay Mills opened the third quarter with a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, pushing Oak Mountain's lead to 31-17.
Pelham stormed back to tie it at 31-31 heading into the fourth, and the teams traded scores down the stretch before Smith's 48-yard touchdown pass and a two-point conversion sealed the 45-38 win with 19 seconds left.
Vacarella ran for three touchdowns despite Oak Mountain's offense managing just 39 passing yards. Smith finished 28 of 44 for 445 yards and four touchdowns for Pelham.
"It's pretty much what you expect from a first game," Kervin said. "A lot of emotions, a lot of mistakes. But hats off to them. They made the plays that need to be made and they won the game."
Oak Mountain fell to 0-1 and hosts Buckhorn next Friday.
Hornets fall in opener
Chelsea dropped its season opener 30-7 to Southside on Friday night, marking the first loss of new head coach Tad Niblett's tenure.
Southside struck first with a 32-yard touchdown on the game's opening possession. Southside scored again to make it 14-0 late in the first quarter.
Christian Madrid forced a fumble and later in the second quarter, a long completion from Logan Strunk to Cohen Jones set up a 2-yard touchdown run from Wyatt Wright to cut the deficit to 14-7.
However, Southside scored twice before the halftime break, taking a 28-7 lead.
Chelsea hosts Gardendale next week.
