HOOVER, Alabama -- The #1 Spain Park Jaguars move on and defeat Hazel Green 31-7 in the first round of the Class 7A AHSAA playoffs at Spain Park Stadium Friday night. With the rain coming down on and off for most of the second half, Jaguars QB Joey Beatty threw for three touchdown passes in the first half to lead the Jaguars into the second round to host James Clemens next week in the 2nd round.
Spain Park (10-1) led 28-0 at the half and even though Hazel Green played better in the second half it was to much to overcome. "I was real proud of Joey tonight," said Jaguars Head coach Shawn Raney. "The receivers did a great job of catching the ball and we are going have to do that in the playoffs off our play action. Were not going to just be able to grind it out on some of these teams we are getting ready to play. We thought we could take some opportunities and we executed well tonight."
Spain Park opened the scoring with 10:25 in the first quarter, when Beatty hit a wide open Thomas Jordan on a 44-yard touchdown pass play for the Jags. Crosby Gray kicked the extra point and Spain Park led 7-0. The Jaguars defense forced another Hazel Green punt and scored again on a Larry Wooden 34-yard touchdown run. Gray kicked the PAT and Spain Park led 14-0 with 8:00 left in the first quarter. Wooden finished the game with 71 yards on 10 carries.
In the second quarter, Beatty connected on two touchdown passes. The first touchdown play was a 31-yard TD connection with Bridge Suber and the second TD came on a screen play to Wade Streeter for a 20-yard touchdown play. Gray kicked the extra points and Spain Park led 28-0 at the half. "Coach preached to us that we need to kick it up a notch," said Jaguars QB Beatty. "This is the playoffs and everyone that we play now is going to be really good and I think we took it up a notch tonight." Beatty finished the game completing 10-of-12 passing for 167 yards and three touchdowns.
In the second half, with only 1:25 left in the third quarter, Gray kicked a 26-yard field goal. With the score, Spain Park led 31-0 and the defense doing its job through the first three quarters. "Our defense is playing good. We had two defensive lineman out, Jonah Tibbs and Markell Clark, they were dressed tonight if we needed to have them, but we wanted to hold them out another week. Getting those two guys back is going to be huge for us. The guys that have stepped in have played great for us though." The Jags defense held Hazel Green to 273 total yards and limited the Hazel Green offense any big plays. Damarius Farmer led the Jags defense with 9.5 tackles on the night.
Hazel Green scored with 9:05 left in the game when Trojans QB Cole Guffey found Christian Cleveland on a 9-yard touchdown play. Cecil Flanagan kicked the extra point to cut the Spain Park lead to 31-7. "We didn't start out well and it really put us behind," said Trojans Head coach Will Wagnon. The Trojans coach had some kind words for his senior quarterback that finished his high school career in the 1st round. "He has played through a ton of pain," added Wagnon. "Since week four, he had broke ribs and no time to heal. He has been hit over and over and comes out everyday to practice and work. He plays his tail off each game and I'm so proud of him. He played in pain and would not give up on his team, coaches and community. I love him and proud of him." Guffey finished the game completing 20-of-37 passing for 170 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Chaz Garrett had 10 receptions for 88 yards.
