Friendly feud: Former coaching cohorts square off at MCS
HUNTSVILLE – Bob Jones broke the game open in the third quarter and eased away to its first win in Class 6A, Region 4 as local teams took all games they played Friday night.
The Patriots scored in various facets including a pick-six and kickoff and downed host Grissom 38-7 at Milton Frank Stadium.
Bob Jones (2-2 overall, 1-1 region) led 14-0 at halftime. Grissom fell to 0-4, 0-2.
“I didn’t think we were very clean,’’ Bob Jones head coach Seth Parker said. “I thought we were pretty bad on third down defensively. I thought we probably should have gotten off the field a few more times.
“But I do think we played strong football tonight, made some really good plays in key moments. We just gotta continue to be better and better each week.”
Bob Jones hosts Buckhorn (3-1, 2-1) Friday at Madison City Stadium (MCS).
The Patriots sit one game behind the Bucks, James Clemens and Sparkman in the region race. Huntsville is also one game back of the pace, with Gadsden City, Grissom and Hazel Green all at the bottom with 0-2 marks.
In Madison this week, Parker and Buckhorn head coach David Green and their respective staffs will plan to offset their knowledge of friends.
“Many of those guys have been at Bob Jones before and I know them well,’’ Parker said. “They’re dear friends of mine, but obviously next week’s gonna be a different story, you know, we’re gonna be going against each other.
“We’re gonna be really familiar as far as scheme goes. I’ve coached with many of those guys and vice versa. I think they’re very well coached. David Green is one of my best friends, and I think he’s an exceptional football coach. Nothing but so much respect and love for them.”
The Patriots took down Grissom in a variety of ways, scoring on pick-six and kickoff return in the win.
Bob Jones led 7-0 after one quarter, 14-0 at halftime then took over by outsourcing the Tigers 21-7 in the third.
Standout running back Jaden Rice scored on a 24-yard run to put the Patriots ahead from the jump, and quarterback Alex Randolph followed by scored his first varsity rushing TD from the 3-yard line and Bob Jones was on its way.
The Patriots defense kept Grissom from scoring inside the 10 twice.
Buckhorn is coming in off a resounding 17-7 win over Huntsville.
“It’s going to be an interesting one simply because there’s gonna be a lot on the line with playoff implications and seeding, and it being homecoming for us,’’ Parker said.
Six teams from each 6A region advance to the playoffs.
