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Photo by Todd Lester
Oak Mountain QB Evan Smith (9) catches a pass from Oak Mountain QB/WR Titus Tucker (15) and runs for a touchdown during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
An Oak Mountain band member performs during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
An Oak Mountain band member performs during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Oak Mountain QB Evan Smith (9) Runs the football during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Oak Mountain QB Evan Smith (9) eludes defenders during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Oak Mountain QB/WR Titus Tucker (15) looks to deliver a pass to Oak Mountain QB Evan Smith (9) during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Oak Mountain QB Evan Smith (9) catches a pass from Oak Mountain QB/WR Titus Tucker (15) and runs for a touchdown during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Oak Mountain SS Jaquarious Davis (31) looks to tackle Spain Park RB Zamir Farris (28) during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Spain Park WR Cooper Kelley (10) fights off defenders during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
An Oak Mountain band member performs during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Oak Mountain's homecoming queen is announced during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Spain Park LB Ethan Gutowski (27) attempts to tackle Oak Mountain RB Mark Johnson (4) during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Oak Mountain RB Judah Tait (33) breaks through the line and runs for a touchdown during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Oak Mountain DE Gavin Nelson (91) battles Spain Park OL Stephen Olsen (78) during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Spain Park DB Jack Kendrick (12D) tackles Oak Mountain RB Cade George (10) during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Spain Park DB Braden Brock (31) and Spain Park LB TJ Metcalf (18) combine to tackle Oak Mountain WR Noah Young (2) during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Oak Mountain QB/WR Titus Tucker (15) fights off Spain Park defenders during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Spain Park DB Jack Kendrick (12) attempts to tackle Oak Mountain RB Cade George (10) during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
An Oak Mountain cheerleader during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Spain Park DB Jack Kendrick (12D) attempts to tackle Oak Mountain RB Cade George (10) during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Oak Mountain RB Mark Johnson (4) catches a touchdown pass during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Oak Mountain RB Mark Johnson (4) fights off Spain Park LB Jack Baylor (9) for a touchdown during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Oak Mountain RB Judah Tait (33) scores a touchdown during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Oak Mountain QB Evan Smith (9) eludes Spain Park LB Ethan Gutowski (27) to score a touchdown during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Oak Mountain RB Mark Johnson (4), Oak Mountain WR Harrison Miller (81), and Oak Mountain QB Evan Smith (9) celebrate a touchdown during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Oak Mountain QB Evan Smith (9) attempts a pass during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Oak Mountain WR Noah Young (2) makes a catch over defender Spain Park DB Braden Brock (31) during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Photo by Todd Lester
Oak Mountain DB Zach Taylor (24) recovers a fumble during a game between Spain Park and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
BIRMINGHAM — The Eagles took it to the limit.
The Oak Mountain High School football team blasted Spain Park 48-17 in a key Class 7A, Region 3 game at Heardmont Park, a victory that sets up the Eagles well for a playoff berth.
“We’re feeling pretty good right now,” said Oak Mountain head coach Cris Bell. “That was a good one.”
Oak Mountain quarterback Evan Smith threw two touchdown passes, caught a touchdown and rushed for another.
“Evan is just slippery,” Bell said. “Evan goes from standing still to full speed in a blink. And that’s ... Evan’s fast.”
Oak Mountain (5-1, 3-1 in region) scored touchdowns on all four of its first-half drives. Judah Tait scored from 3 yards out, Smith passed to Mark Johnson for a 28-yard score, Johnson found the end zone on a 12-yard rush and quarterback Titus Tucker connected with Smith on a 42-yard bomb. The Eagles led 27-10 at the half.
“Titus put it right on the money and Evan ran under it,” Bell said of the final Oak Mountain touchdown of the first half.
Spain Park (2-4, 0-4) got a 19-yard field goal from Drake Tabor and a 17-yard touchdown from quarterback Bennett Meredith to Cooper Kelley in the first half.
Oak Mountain kept its foot on the gas pedal in the third quarter, scoring on its first three drives. Tait bolted up the middle for a 51-yard touchdown, Smith scored from 9 yards out and Noah Young hauled in a 26-yard pass from Smith to go up 48-10. Spain Park scored late in the third quarter on a 1-yard run by Justin Pegues.
Smith finished 5-of-8 for 68 yards and two touchdowns through the air. He caught the 42-yard TD and rushed nine times for 100 yards and a score. Tait gained 140 yards on 15 carries to lead the Eagles. Young led the receivers with four catches for 46 yards.
For Spain Park, Meredith completed 26-of-40 passes for 354 yards and a touchdown. Kelley has 114 yards on five receptions. Pegues also caught five passes for 94 yards. Spain Park managed just 49 rushing yards in the game.
This is the first time since 2014 that Oak Mountain has started 5-1. That team finished 10-2 with a second-round playoff appearance.
“We can’t become complacent,” Bell said. “I thought we did a great job up front on both sides of the ball.”
Spain Park travels to Hoover next week, while Oak Mountain hits the road for Tuscaloosa County.
Click here to view and purchase photos from the game.
