By David Knox
Sports Editor
The quest for the Alabama High School Athletic Association Championship and the trophy with the “Blue Map” begins this week.
In reality, it began no later than last winter’s workouts, spring training, summer fitness and lifting programs, 7-on-7 and line combines and preseason fall work starting August.
But we do get to see much of that as the general public. We see a few games, and then the playoffs come.
Hours of preparation and dedication — by players, coaches and parents — brought us to the brink of these playoffs.
No matter what happens Friday night and beyond, you guys are winners because you set a goal, made a commitment, and pursued it till the end.
We salute you, Huskies, Cougars, Indians. Best of luck.
Spain Park (6-4) at Hewitt-Trussville (10-0)
“Our reward for going 10-0 is playing Spain Park in the first round of the playoffs,” Huskies coach half-joked after the Huskies beat Florence to close their unprecedented back-to-back perfect regular seasons.
Floyd and the Huskies already knew they’d be getting the Jaguars, have know that for a week, as the Huskies, as Class 7A, Region 4 champs, were locked in to host the fourth-place finisher from Region 3.
These programs know each other. Before the reclassification and realignment before 2016, the Jags and Huskies were both in Region 3, the so-called SEC West of high school football in Alabama, and their two meetings lived up top that kind of competitiveness and more.
The first meeting might have been, one could argue, the beginning of the Josh Floyd era and what we’d see over the coming years.
In 2014, Floyd’s first season at Hewitt, the Huskies and Jags met and engaged in a four-overtime thriller, the Huskies coming out on top 64-63. Quarterback Zac Thomas, Bailey McElwain and Jarrion Street led Hewitt to its first region win.
In 2015, one of Spain Park’s best squads ever edged Hewitt 31-28 on a field goal, Those Jags went to the state championship finals where they lost 14-12 to McGill-Toolen.
This time, the Huskies wear the favorite’s helmet, but it won’t be easy. The Jaguars’ quarterback is the son of one of Trussville favorite sons, Jay Barker.
Braxton Barker has led the rebuilding Jaguars to a 6-4 record. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior wears No. 7 just as his dad did while winning a national championship at Alabama. He’s not a big-time college prospect, but he makes the plays he needs to and OC/QB coach Marty Rozell gets the most out of him.
In a 27-24 loss to archrival Hoover, Barker completed 22-of-34 passes for almost 300 yards. Jalen McMillan is his favorite target.
Veteran head coach Shawn Raney likes to build on the defense and running game. On the ground it’s been the 1-2 punch of D’Arie Johnson and Jalen Henderson. But he’s had to rebuild last year’s defense, so look for the Huskies to use their balance to move the chains and put some points on the board.
“They’re going to be well-coached and disciplined,” Floyd said.
The Huskies counter on offense with their own Alabama legacy in Paul Tyson, great-grandson of Paul “Bear” Bryant. Tyson has completed 186-of-262 passes for 2,709 yards and 31 touchdowns, breaking Connon Adair’s mark set just last season. He’s been intercepted just three times. His go-to receivers? Whoever has been open, as he’s taken what the defense is giving.
Running back Elliott McElwain has 58 catches for 781 yards and seven scores. Receivers Logan Pitts has 34 grabs for 778 yards and nine scores and Dazalin Worsham, a threat in space or on the deep routes, has 37 catches for 699 yards and eight touchdowns. Three others have TD receptions, including reliable Lee Reagan.
The Huskies can move the ball just as capable on the ground behind a stellar offensive line, led by Alabama commit Pierce Quick. McElwain has 892 yards on 115 carries with 10 touchdowns. Antonio Reed missed last week’s game with an injury, but he’s racked up 524 yards on 69 carries and seven TDs.
Cameron Bledsoe has 471 yards on 25 rushes and three TDs and Myles Mason, back from injury to play offense or defense, has 245 yards on just 25 rushes and five touchdowns.
The Huskies are averaging 244 yards rushing and 283 yards passing per game.
The defense, improved over a year ago, has had trouble containing multiple-threat quarterbacks and running down speedsters in the secondary. But they are tough, hard-nosed and physical.
Linebacker Simon Miskelley is the ringleader with 111 tackles, 14 for losses, a sack and two interceptions. Trevor SIsk has 105 tackles, 19 for losses, an interception and two fumble recovers. Defensive end Tyler Antkowiak has 20 tackles for losses, 10 hurries and three sacks to go with his 72 overall stops as the 6-6, 220-pound junior has been a major factor in the pass rush.
Kicker Parker Colburn has made 62-of-62 extra points, 12-of-13 field goals and has booted 33 kickoffs for touchbacks.
Florence tested the defense with its spectacular back, Armoni Goodwin. Spain Park doesn’t have anyone like that. It has a good quarterback in Barker, but not one that can make big plays with his feet like Sparkman’s Devin Kimbrough.
With all of Hewitt’s offensive firepower, the Huskies will have to be disciplined and cash in those opportunities, and then it will come down to the defense.
Tribune prediction: Hewitt-Trussville 45, Spain Park 24
Florence (4-6) at PInson Valley (10-0)
Pinson Valley got Bo NIx back, and just in time.
The Indians’ quarterback returned from injury to complete 17-of-27 passes for 238 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Pleasant Grove to compete the first 10-0 regular season in school history.
The Indians likely would have gotten by without him against the Spartans, as they have since Nix’s ankle injury against Jasper.
But the first playoff test may need Nix’s arm to get the job done.
Most four-seeds don’t bring the weapon Florence does. Freshman running back Armoni Goodwin racked up more than 300 yards against Hewitt-Trussville last week and brings 1,235 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns into the Friday night clash.
He broke loose for TD runs of 75, 85 (twice) and 6.
He had another 32-yarder that he might have scored on him his wasn’t worn out.
Quarterback Bradley Dorin has added 1,600 passings and 17 touchdowns, most of them to Cadarrius Thompson, who has 60 catches for 931 yards and 11 scores.
The Falcons’ losses were all to quality teams — Clay-Chalkville, Austin, Bob Jones, Muscle Shoals, Athens, Hewitt-Trussville — so they’re battle-tested.
The Indians allowed just 99 yards last week, but they’ll be facing the best offense they’ve faced in many, many weeks. They’ll need NIx, LiAllen Dailey and Khymel Chaverst and those strong lines to get the job done Friday night and keep the fantastic ride alive.
Tribune prediction: Pinson Valley 56, Florence 48
Athens (5-5) at Clay-Chalkville (8-2)
Clay-Chalkville had a week off to get ready — and get even madder about the season-finale loss to Park Crossing. Athens limped into the playoffs off losses to 6A No. 1 Austin and Class 7A Huntsville,
The Golden Eagles of Cody Gross, in his second season as head coach after a stint on UNA’s staff, are a solid, solid offensive team.
Quarterback Logan Smothers is the son of the team’s OC, Shane Smothers, and is the leading passer and rusher. He’s passed for almost 1,700 yards. He’s got 13 touchdowns to eight picks and he’s added 588 yards rushing and six TDs. He likes to throw to the head coach’s son,
Braden Gross, who’s got 30 catches for 403 yards and six scores. Smothers also dumps it off to Bryson Kirk, with 32 catches for 327 and one score. Running back Ke’Andre Jones has a combined total of about 800 yards of offense and eight TDs.
The defense is led by senior Perry Kirby’s 91 tackles.
Willie Miller leads the Cougars offense at quarterback, but the running game of Quentin Young and Curtis Blakely behind that powerful offensive line is the key to keeping the Eagles’ defense on its heels and its offense off the field. DJ Dale, Derrick Bean and the Cougars defense will simply have to contain Smothers and be disciplined.
Tribune prediction: Clay-Chalkville 31, Athens 27
Last week’s predictions: 3-0
Season’s record: 41-7 (85.4%)