TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- The Hoover Bucs used a stingy defense to win 35-6 against Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Roy Johnson Jr. Stadium on a rainy Friday night. The Bucs' balanced offensive attack kept the Patriots on their heels for most of the night.
Hoover (2-1, 1-0), coming off their 39-36 loss to cross-town rival Spain Park last week, looked ready to play in this one. "I can't say enough about our defense with two goal-line stands in the first half," said Bucs head coach Chip English. "If we serve one another because we are on the same team and have a mind to service, we going to have great things happen; tonight, the defense served us with great field position, and then two goal line stances, and the offense fed off of this and a great team win."
The Bucs scored first in the game with 1:57 left in the first quarter when quarterback Mac Beason scrambled and found the end zone on a 5-yard touchdown run to give the Bucs an early 7-0 lead. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (2-1, 0-1) responded with 11:40 left in the second quarter when Hudson Hall connected on a 26-yard field goal and cut the Bucs lead to 7-3.
With Hoover's offense taking over after the Patriots score, Beason hit Avery Crawford on a pass that took the ball deep in Hillcrest territory. With 8:27 left in the first half, Jacorrey Hayes scored on a 6-yard touchdown run up the middle of the defense to give the Bucs a 14-3 lead. Hillcrest came back again, but they were shut out of the Bucs' end zone and had to settle for a Hudson 20-yard field goal with 4:33 left in the half. With the Patriots score, they still trailed 14-6. In the first half, Patriots running backs Christian Richey and freshman Jacobi Harris had big runs to set up Hillcrest scores, but they couldn't find their way into the end zone that night.
After halftime, the Bucs took the kickoff and scored a considerable momentum-turning touchdown. With 11:06 left in the third quarter, Jonah Winston raced 35 yards for a touchdown around the right end, and Hoover led 21-6. Hoover drove the length of the field again but fumbled in the end zone with 6:25 left in the quarter to keep the score at 21-6 Hoover. Defensive back Henry Robinson fell on the football in the end zone for a touchback. Hoover kept charging on offense, and with 4:11 left in the third quarter, Beason hit Chris Warren over the middle of the field, and he raced 47 yards for a Hoover touchdown. With the score, Hoover led 28-6 and dominated the third quarter.
Late in the third quarter, the Bucs defense made a play when Dylan Bunkley picked off a Patriots pass. With Hoover driving after the interception, the Patriots forced a turnover on a Javarski Lanier interception that gave the ball right back to Hillcrest. Hoover ran out the clock most of the fourth quarter, and with 1:21 left in the game, Bucs running back Jordan Jacobs scored on a 2-yard touchdown run for Hoover. The Bucs led 35-6 late in the game.
Hoover had over 400 yards of offense in the game, which quarterback Beason led. The senior QB completed 12-of-20 passing for 195 yards, a touchdown with 70 yards on four carries and a touchdown. "Mac is a baller; he is a gunslinger that sometimes makes me nervous," added English. "But there are times when he makes big plays for us. A leader and a competitor."
Next, Hoover will travel to Hewitt-Trussville, while Hillcrest will host Vestavia Hills next week.
