Photo by Todd Kwarcinski
Briarwood Football
Briarwood's William Gray (10) in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
The Briarwood Christian School football team is on a bit of a roll, having won four straight games at the halfway mark of the season.
The Lions are 4-1 overall, 3-0 in Class 5A, Region 5, and sit in the driver's seat of the region for now.
Following a road victory over then-No. 4 Mortimer Jordan last week, the Lions will take to the highway once more, to play at region foe St. Clair County later this week.
The Fighting Saints have struggled to a 1-4 start to the campaign, including an 0-3 mark in the region.
“I know that they’re going to be a tough opponent,” said Briarwood receiver Luke Miskelley. “We’ve got to take it week by week and go out there and give it our all and not let up.”
St. Clair County is coming off a 37-0 loss to Saks and has yet to make the playoffs since becoming a 5A school in 2014. However, Briarwood must show up and play well to avoid the letdown after a momentum-building win.
In that 23-14 victory over Mortimer Jordan, William Gray completed 14 of his 21 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns. He also bulled his way for 63 rushing yards on 11 carries. Both of his touchdown passes went to Luke Miskelley, from 29 yards out in the first quarter and from 45 yards out in the fourth.
“I’ve developed a ton of trust in Luke this offseason,” Gray said. “I know he’ll go up and get it. I threw it up for him and he went and got it.”
Briarwood's defense played perhaps its best game. Mortimer Jordan quarterback Douglas Moore faced constant pressure and threw three interceptions. Two went to Carson Donnelly, and the other to Jonathan Hill.
Yancey also said following the game that this is a special group of players.
“These kids are real hungry, and I’ve got to keep them understanding that the only way to feed that hunger is with hard work to prepare so that you can have these kind of nights,” he said. “They’re pretty easy to motivate because they really don’t like the idea of being 4-6 or 3-7. They want to have a good year.”
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday.
