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Evan Smith makse a play during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Hogan Morton kicks the ball during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Oak Mountain takes the field during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Evan Smith runs the ball for a touchdown during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Zach Taylor makes a tackle during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Chase Schwender goes for a tackle during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Oak Mountain defense stops the ball during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Jonathan Bennett makes a play during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Zach Taylor catches the ball during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Evan Smith runs the ball during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Judah Tait makes a play during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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The Oak Mountain band and dancers performed during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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The Oak Mountain band and dancers performed during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Noah Young attempts a diving catch during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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The Oak Mountain band and dancers performed during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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The Oak Mountain band and dancers performed during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Oak Mountain makes a stop during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Hogan Morton kicks a field goal during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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The Oak Mountain band and dancers performed during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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The Oak Mountain band and dancers performed during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Oak Mountain celebrates a touchdown during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Evan Smith runs for a touchdown during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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The Oak Mountain defense stop a play during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Jonathan Bennett dives for a touchdown during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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The Oak Mountain band and dancers performed during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Jonathan Bennett runs the ball during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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The Oak Mountain band and dancers performed during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Chase Schwender makes a tackle during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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The Oak Mountain Eagles take the field during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Sam Johnson punts the ball during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Oak Mountain prepares to punt during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Jonathan Bennett makes a play during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
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Evan Smith runs the ball during a game between Tuscaloosa County and Oak Mountain on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Heardmont Park in Birmingham.
BIRMINGHAM -- Oak Mountain High School head coach Cris Bell recalled a conversation he had with quarterback Evan Smith. He said Smith was playing timidly.
“I took it as a challenge,” the sophomore signal-caller said. “This year I started playing a little timid. People were playing me hard. I just let loose this game.”
Indeed he did, leading his Oak Mountain team to a 53-32 victory over visiting Tuscaloosa County at Heardmont Park on Friday night in a Class 7A, Region 3 matchup.
“We had a great week of practice,” Smith said. “I knew I could do it.”
Smith ran 15 times for 180 yards and two touchdowns, and completed 2-of-7 passes for 43 yards and a touchdown. His first score on the ground was on an 80-yard run.
“It was a crack play,” Smith recalled. “I had to get around the dude and (the sea) parted. I had to get around a few people and it opened up.”
Tuscaloosa County fell to 0-7 overall and 0-5 in region, but the Wildcats fought tooth and nail with the Eagles, leaving some to wonder if the last team with the ball would win.
The game featured seven lead changes and the score was knotted at 32-all with 7:42 to go in the game. The Oak Mountain offense continued to thrive from there, with a hand from its defense.
“We’ve been piddling around all year offensively,” Bell said. “Outside of the Hewitt game, we really had no rhythm. We really had a gut-check week at practice (and) the kids responded really, really well.”
The coach said he was pleased with his offensive line, noting the unit had been inconsistent but came off the ball well tonight.
The contest was a back-and-forth affair in which no lead was safe. After the home team went up 39-32, Jacob Goldfon recovered a Wildcats fumble to give the Eagles a short field. Three plays later, Jonathan Bennett scored from 10 yards out.
Later, Chase Schwender intercepted a pass with 2:02 in the fourth quarter. A minute later, Tyler Do-Bui scored from the 3 to remove all doubt.
Devin Holden had 102 yards on two kickoff returns to put the home team in good position after a couple of Wildcat scores.
Oak Mountain heads to Spain Park next week, while Tuscaloosa County hosts Hewitt-Trussville.
Click here to purchase photos from the game.
