Spain Park vs. Hoover football
Bucs and Jags will meet Thursday night for the first time since 2011.
The Spain Park Jaguars and the Hoover Buccaneers meet on the football field for the first time since 2011 tonight. It’s a rare Thursday night game, and was moved to accommodate television. The Raycom series of Thursday night high school football games picked this game before the season. It will air in Birmingham on WBRC’s alternate channel, BRC 6.2. The Bucs (3-2, 3-0), ranked No. 1 in Class 7A, lead Region 3 after recovering from tough losses against out-of-state powers Miami (Fla.) Central and Colquitt County (Ga.). They’ve won three straight region games. The Jags (3-2, 1-2), ranked No. 10, have lost two in a row in region play after a strong start. Hoover leads the all-time series 11-1 in the books (due to a forfeit) and 12-0 on the field. Tickets are available online at the Spain Park High website, at the Hoover High athletic office (until 4 p.m. today) and at Bryant Bank locations on Alabama 150 and U.S. 280 in Greystone (until 5 p.m. today). Tickets are $7. Children 5 and younger are admitted free. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Jaguar Stadium.
Seventh-ranked Oak Mountain (4-1, 2-1 Class 7A, Region 3) travels to Hewitt-Trussville’s Jack Wood Stadium for a big region game with the Huskies (3-2, 1-2). These are the two surprise teams in the region and the winner will be in solid position to earn a playoff berth. It will be a contrast in styles, as Hewitt coach Josh Floyd is a Gus Malzahn protégé who is in his first year as Huskies coach after a stint at Shiloh Christian in Arkansas. The Huskies push the tempo and spread the field. The Eagles rely on a powerful running game and a physical defense. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Friday.
Chelsea (5-0, 2-0 Class 6A, Region 3) travels to fourth-ranked Opelika (4-1, 3-0) for a region showdown. The Bulldogs’ only blemish is a 28-21 loss last week to Class 7A No. 3 Central of Phenix City. The Hornets, despite being unbeaten, aren’t getting much love from the ASWA voters, hanging just outside the Top 10 at 12th. With Opelika, Benjamin Russell, Pell City and Oxford ahead in region play, Chelsea will have ample opportunity to prove it’s legitimate. Kickoff is 7 p.m. Friday at Bulldog Stadium. It will be the first meeting between the two schools.
Briarwood Christian (2-3, 2-1 Class 6A, Region 5) travels to Jasper on Friday to take on Walker (3-2, 2-1) in a crucial region game. Homewood, at 3-0, leads the region, but there’s a logjam after the Patriots – Briarwood, Walker and Minor are all 2-1. Pelham, Hueytown and Jackson-Olin are all 1-2. The Lions’ defense has been pretty salty, but the offense hasn’t managed a lot of points. This is only the second meeting ever between the two schools. Briarwood beat the Vikings 21-14 in the second round of the 2010 state playoffs. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Ki-Ro/Gambrell Field.
Spain Park High will host the annual Dig in the Park volleyball tournament Friday and Saturday. The strong 16-team tournament includes host Spain Park, Hoover, Oak Mountain, Hewitt-Trussville, Homewood, Chelsea, Walker, John Carroll Catholic, Calera, Curry, Briarwood Christian, Mountain Brook, Sparkman, Pelham, McAdory and Helena. A tournament pass that covers both days is $10 while a single-day pass is $6. Children 10 and younger are admitted at no charge.
