By Gary Lloyd
Pinson Valley ends the regular season Friday at Briarwood Christian.
Something has to give in this game.
Briarwood Christian (7-2, 6-1 Class 5A, Region 4) is riding a six-game winning streak, surrendering just 42 points in those games. Briarwood has shut out three of its last six opponents.
Pinson Valley (6-3, 5-2 Class 5A, Region 6), a bit more battle tested than Briarwood, is on a three-game winning streak, fresh off a huge 53-34 win over region opponent Moody. That win locked up the No. 2 seed in the region for Pinson Valley.
Pinson Valley senior defensive lineman Calvin Burns (79) and junior linebacker Nathan Cunningham (1) chase a Moody running back last week.
photo by Ron Burkett
Junior running back Nick Gibson, who rushed 38 times for 369 yards and six touchdowns in that win, is a player to watch against Briarwood. The running back with offers from Mississippi State, Tennessee, Arkansas and Florida State has now rushed 203 times for 1,817 yards and 23 touchdowns this season. Gibson needs just 183 yards to go over the 2,000-yard mark for the season.
With the first round of the playoffs looming next week, though, Gibson may not see a ton of work.
The Pinson Valley defense will look to continue building on its solid play that it showed in the second half against Moody last week. The Indians held Moody to 73 yards of total offense and zero points after allowing 34 first-half points. The Indians also scored two defensive touchdowns in the game.
Pinson Valley beat Briarwood 46-21 last season. In 2011, Briarwood crushed Pinson Valley, 44-10, and in 2010 Briarwood won 45-6.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
