Buccaneers snap Patriots’ win streak

Hoover and Bob Jones played last night at Buccaneer Stadium, in what was billed as two of the best teams in the State for 6A Football, but the hype did not match the actual game, as Hoover dominated the Patriots, handing them their worst defeat in years.

After a short week of practice for both teams, only one team looked ready to go, and it was the Hoover Bucs winning 41-13.

Hoover with the win improves to 9-1, and Bob Jones with the loss also goes to 9-1.

The game, which fell on Hoover Senior night, started a little slow as only Hoover scored first in first quarter, then both teams traded field goals and scores, but the game took a Hoover turn when Hoover struck with an electrifying 96-yard kickoff return from sophomore Marlon Humphrey, a score that put the Bucs up 14-3, and with that home field crowd and momentum, Hoover never looked back.

‘Trickeration” was the theme of a wild and wacky second quarter, as Bob Jones came back to score a touchdown, and Hoover added two more scores, one on a halfback pass, and a number of gadget plays that seemed to catch the Patriots defense off guard. With those plays and big scores, the Bucs cruised into halftime with a commanding 27-10 halftime lead.

The second half belonged to the Bucs, as they played a big third quarter, and had the lead 33-10, heading into the fourth quarter. The game continued with the Bucs adding to their lead and making it 41-10 before Bob Jones kicked a field goal towards the end of the game to end the scoring, with the final score 41-13 in favor of Hoover.

Hoover’s defense hurried, sacked, and harassed Bob Jones all night, and the theme of the game seemed to be Hoover’s defense, as they were able to shut down the Bob Jones. While last year’s game was a defensive battle on both sides, this year’s game was more an explosion of big plays by Hoover, and a solid game plan to shut down the Patriots on offense.

Perhaps the liberal substitution of starters on both sides also indicated that both teams need to be ready and healthy for next week’s start of the AHSAA 6 A Playoffs, it also appears both teams will meet again soon, giving the Patriots one more chance to make that signature win in football.