Bob Jones ousted from playoffs by Hoover
BY LINDSAY VAUGHT
Hoover got a strong second half performance from quarterback Connor Short to defeat Bob Jones for the second time this season, 26-17. This loss hurts more because it ends the Patriots season at 10-2 in the second round of the playoffs.
After a strong first half, the Patriots led 17-13 and appeared poised to end the loosing streak to Hoover. Bob Jones racked up 235 yards in the first half and dominated the Buccaneers on the line of scrimmage. Bob Jones running back Nick Beavers gashed the Hoover defense for 85 yards in the first half. But the Patriots missed opportunities with several dropped passes that could have resulted in a bigger lead.
Bob Jones started the scoring with an Andrew Dunn 35-yard field goal on the opening series. Hoover struck back on their first play from scrimmage, a 67-yard touchdown pass from Short to Josh Jackson.
The Patriots got a defensive touchdown as Zach Warren picked off a Hoover pass and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown. Hoover’s defense struck back the next time Bob Jones had the ball when Patriots quarterback Jeffrey Moss fumbled after a scramble and the ball was returned 55 yards for a Hoover touchdown.
Moss later found Nick Richardson for a 40-yard touchdown pass to give the Patriots confidence and a 4 point lead going in at halftime.
Early in the third quarter Zach Warren returned a Hoover punt 38 yards to set Bob Jones up deep in Hoover territory. But quarterback Jeffrey Moss was sacked twice to force a long field goal attempt from 46-yards that was short.
After the miss, Hoover took control of the game shutting down the Bob Jones offense. Hoover allowed the Patriots only 50 total yards and no points in the second half.
The defense continued to make plays to keep Bob Jones in the game. Zach Warren had an interception at the Bob Jones 3-yard line to stop a Hoover drive late in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Drew Davis had a key stop on a Hoover fourth down to give Bob Jones possession at their own 47-yard line.
But the Hoover defense shut down Beavers and the Patriot offense and forced a key fumble from Beavers who finished the game with 98 yards on 22 carries.
Short accounted for two touchdowns in the second half, the final one a 4-yard run on a fourth down to ice the game. He accounted for over 300 yards of offense with 81 rushing on 12 carries and 212 yards passing hitting on 12 of 19 passes.
“He definitely knows what he is doing even if he is a backup,” Patriots safety Tyler Brutofsky said of Short. “He had good ball fakes and he was accurate on his passes.”
“We were very confident at halftime but we couldn’t keep the momentum going,” said Patriots linebacker Drew Davis.
It was a sad ending for one of the largest senior classes in Bob Jones football history. The 37 seniors dominated Region 8 for the last three seasons. Unfortunately, they could not beat Hoover who is now 4-0 against Bob Jones and Moves on to play Hillcrest Tuscaloosa.
