Those three words -- “living a lie”-- could also apply to all those pundits (like this one) who thought Spain Park could and would beat Hoover Friday night.
In six previous tries, Spain Park couldn’t pull it off. The Jags had never beaten cross-town rival Hoover. They still haven’t as No. 3 Hoover man-handled No. 7 (6A) Spain Park, 23-7.
Missed tackles plagued the Jags on Hoover’s first drive, which was capped when Tyler Ray hit Spain Park transfer/senior receiver Brandon Harris for six points from the 37, on a third-and-15 play. The Bucs led by a TD with just 4:49 elapsed.
Hoover’s next possession began at midfield and ended with a 10-point lead when Graham Craig booted a 22-yard field goal with still 5:21 to go in the first quarter.
Unable to stand prosperity, the Jags started a drive at the Hoover 47, and Cody Wells’ pass was batted up and picked off by Hoover defensive lineman Austin Allen. Ray found Harris deep again for 35 yards to the nine, but Craig missed a 37-yarder to keep the margin at 10.
It ballooned to 17 with 8:52 left in the first half when Ray, operating again from the 37, found Tristan Purifoy on a play where the corner fell down.
To keep things interesting, Wells found Thomas Wilder for a six-yard TD with 3:53 left in the half to make it 17-7.
On the Jags’ opening possession of the third quarter, Wells fired a fastball to Hoover linebacker James Martin, who returned it to the 14. Andre Shields crashed in from the two with 8:55 left in the quarter, Hoover was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct, and Craig’s PAT was wide and short, but Hoover led 23-7.
SPHS drove inside the Hoover four on its next two possession and fumbled, both times. Game. Set. Streak. I’ll say it once more: “Living a lie.”
Hoover coach Rush Propst was nicer, but chose to quote a fellow visor man:. “I’ll steal one from Steve Spurrier,” he said. “It's just two wins in the region. There’s a lot of football left to be played.”
Both teams are now 2-1.
TOP PROSPECT: Spain Park’s William Green is a guy who must be accounted for at all times. “Probably the best edge pressure guy. He can come at you from the first level (line), or he can come at you from the second level (linebacker)," said a man who should know, Hoover coach Rush Propst. The Bucs have faced Green since his sophomore year. “When you run away from him, and you throw away from him, he can run you down.”
Propst sees Green (6-4, 205) as an outside linebacker at the next level, and agreed with the FNL assessment that Green’s game is similar at this point in his career to ex-NFL/Alabama/Mary Montgomery star Ralph Staten.
“He reminds you of that," Prospt said. "He just brings you a lot of things. You can put him in the boundary on a college hash (mark). You can bring him, or you can drop him (in coverage). He’s athletic. He’s so fast.”
Green, who another source compares to ex-Auburn star Karlos Dansby, saw action at linebacker and end in this contest, sometimes dropping and sometimes blitzing. He showed the ability to disrupt what‘s going on in the backfield. He had a key sack to stymie a late first half Hoover drive.
Florida and Alabama are involved in quite a battle for Green’s services. One Spain Park source says the star is tiring of the recruiting process, and may commit before season’s end. To whom, is quite another question.
SENIORS WHO SHINED: Hoover defensive back Chase Daniel (6-3, 190) has been solid according to Propst, as has his secondary mate Will Lowery (5-11, 180). Daniel is a fine open-field tackler. Offensively, Hanceville transfer Purifoy, a receiver who is listed at 6-2, 210, is a top athlete. Ole Miss could be on the verge of offering, and the Rebs reportedly like him as a safety or outside linebacker.
Spain Park’s Eric Jones is a recent Tulane commitment who is 6-foot-7, 285.
“They got a steal,” says Spain Park coach John Grass of the Green Wave. Playing against Green has produced some practice battle royales. “Oh, they have some good ones,” smiled Grass. “It makes him better going against Wlliam in practice every day. It is a war every day for them. It makes the whole line better.”
Kicker Trey Del Greco, son of Al, is committed to Vanderbilt. To play golf. Word is, Bobby Johnson would like to have him, but rules say you can’t play football on a golf scholly.
Ace Tiger recruiter James Willis’ son of the same name stars at running back for the Jaguars. He’s 5-10, 190, a bit smaller than his ex-linebacker dad.
JUNIORS TO WATCH: Hoover’s Andre Shields (5-10, 190) and Jemeriz Owens ( 5-8, 175) are two to watch at running back, and Owens is a plus kick returner. The Jags’ Evan Swindall (6-3, 270) is ambidextrous according to his dad, Spain Park assistant Perry Swindall, who served as Russellville’s head coach for years. Evan plays guard for Spain Park, but projects as a center at the next level.
SUPER SOPHS: He’s out for this season, but Propst compares Mandrekis Humphrey to current New England Patriot and former Florida star Chad Jackson. Humphrey, son of ex-NFL/Alabama star Bobby, is recovering from a broken leg suffered playing basketball during the summer.
Helping out this year is middle linebacker John Propst (6-0, 190), the coach’s nephew. His uncle thinks John will fill out to 6-2, 215. Propst had double-digit tackles on this night.
GOOD WORK IFYOU CAN GET IT: Never say you’ve seen it all at a high school game. Regions Park has a crew who actually trotted out during time-outs to replace divots in the grass. Seriously. Probably good in that the sod was laid just this week, with the Birmingham Barons’ season over with.
RIGHT ON TIME: Faced with an FNL “starvation without representation,” the Hoover boosters came through. The press box was down to nothing but the sweet cornbread and cheese biscuits from Jim n’ Nick’s Barbeque when reinforcements arrived, complete with chicken fingers, buns and two varieties of pork. Yes, I was hungry, and hopeful, but that stuff really hit the spot.
NEXT WEEK: Regions Park again is the site, but this time the visitors are the Spartans of Mountain Brook, which aren’t likely to give Hoover much of a challenge. MBHS is without the services of quarterback Morgan Ogilvie, who was injured in the opening game this year.
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