TRUSSVILLE, Alabama -- The Hoover Bucs used a stingy defense and defeated the Hewitt-Trussville Huskies 17-7 in a Class 7A, Region 3 matchup at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday night. The Bucs defense swarmed the field for most of the night, making it challenging for the Huskies offense to get much done in the game.

The Bucs defense held the Huskies high scoring offense to 200 yards of total offense on the night. "We were a very dominate defense that had a great week of preparation," said Bucs linebacker Kaleb Jackson. "Our preparation matters the most. How you prepare is how you will play in the game. You have to practice and work on tackling when you play a running quarterback as they had. We must keep playing hard and take this one game at a time."

The Bucs (4-1, 3-0) scored first in the game with 1:25 left in the first quarter when Brewer Smith hit Jordan Woolen on a short pass, and Woolen turned it into an 11-yard touchdown reception. Great blocking by wide receiver Freddie Dunson that sprung Woolen for the score. With the touchdown, Hoover took a 7-0 lead. The Bucs forced a punt and were driving, but on a third down play, defensive lineman Tyrell Averhart sacked the Bucs quarterback, and that drive stalled as the first quarter ended.

Hewitt-Trussville (3-2, 2-1) came right back after the Huskies defensive stand to get a score. Quarterback Peyton Floyd scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 9:42 left in the second quarter. With the score, the game was tied at 7-7. With the touchdown, Floyd has nine rushing touchdowns on the season. With Hoover driving midway through the second quarter, the Bucs tried to go deep in the corner of the end zone. Tennessee commitment Rickey Gibson intercepted the pass and turned away any Bucs scoring opportunity.

With the Huskies having the ball right before the half, Dj Estes picked off a pass and put the ball into Hewitt-Trussville territory but again, an Averhart sack ended the Bucs chances on that drive.

With 8:25 left in the third quarter, the Bucs scored again. This time running back Ahamari Williams scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Bucs a 14-7 lead. "Our offensive line is not there yet, but we gave it our all tonight," said Bucs offensive lineman Ethan Hubbard. "We played very physical and very good in the second half. It is probably our best half of the season, but we need this a whole game of it. We want to be the most physical team in the state."

With 11:20 left in the fourth quarter, Peyton Argent kicked a 38-yard field goal to provide Hoover with a 17-7 lead early in the fourth quarter. That lead felt like a three-touchdown lead the way the Bucs defense was playing. "I thought our guys played hard," said Huskies head coach Josh Floyd. "We had too many penalties, self-inflicted errors. Not taking away from anything from Hoover, their defense played very well." 

The Bucs offense took around seven minutes off the clock in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. Hewitt-Trussville returned with a drive that stalled in Hoover territory as the game ended. "Proud of our offense and our offensive line for answering the bell in the second half," said Bucs head coach Wade Waldrop. "That last drive we didn't score but took the air out of the game. Also, a big drive getting that score coming out of the second half."

Next week, the Bucs will travel to Class 6A power Mountain Brook while Hewitt-Trussville will travel to face Class 6A Huffman.