By Gary Lloyd
Hewitt-Trussville and Mountain Brook are playing for a lot Friday.
The game between the Class 6A, Region 6 opponents will go a long way in determining the region’s final playoff representative. Hewitt-Trussville is 2-4 overall with a 2-2 region record. Mountain Brook is 3-3 overall with the same region record. Shades Valley and Vestavia Hills are 4-0 in the region, and Gardendale is 3-1.
Kickoff at Jack Wood Stadium is at 7 p.m.
Hewitt-Trussville has region losses to Vestavia Hills and Shades Valley. Past Mountain Brook, the Huskies have Gardendale and Huffman left as region opponents. Mountain Brook has region losses to Shades Valley and Gardendale. After Hewitt-Trussville, the Spartans still have Huffman and Vestavia Hills on the region schedule.
Hewitt-Trussville senior defensive end Joseph Roberts (49) attempts to tackle a Woodlawn runner in a game at Jack Wood Stadium last month.
file photo by Ron Burkett
“It’s just another game for us,” said Hewitt-Trussville senior wide receiver DeMarcus Kelly, who caught three passes for 114 yards and a touchdown in last week’s 42-35 loss at Shades Valley. “We have to play hard all four quarters, not just two.”
Mountain Brook, ranked No. 6 in Class 6A before the season started, has won three consecutive games after starting a surprising 0-3. The Spartans have drilled Woodlawn and Carver, and slipped past Buckhorn 15-14, in the three-game winning streak. In Mountain Brook’s past two games, quarterback Jacob Carroll has thrown for 447 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. Against Carver, he also rushed for two touchdowns.
Hewitt-Trussville has lost two straight games, falling to Minor on homecoming 34-23 and last week at No. 9 Shades Valley in a near comeback, 42-35. Senior quarterback Blake Bailey had a great passing game at Shades Valley, completing 18 of his 39 passes for 345 yards and four touchdowns. He did throw two interceptions but also rushed for a touchdown. The Huskies managed just 57 rushing yards on 32 attempts last week and 84 yards on 25 carries the week before against Minor.
Hewitt-Trussville will need to find success in its running game to sustain long drives and keep the ball away from Carroll and the Spartans. The Huskies forced a couple Shades Valley turnovers last week, something important again this week.
“No matter who we play, we look at it as an opportunity,” said senior defensive end Austin Wysor, who notched seven tackles, three tackles for loss and a fumble recovery at Shades Valley.
Not able to attend Friday’s game? No problem. The game will be broadcast on 107.3 FM and at www.spartanradionetwork.com.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
