By Joshua Huff, sports editor
PINSON — As this 2019 high school football season has trundled on, Pinson Valley has morphed from a 3-2 tropical storm into a 10-2 Category 5 hurricane that has reigned destruction on a hapless Class 6A division.
That potent storm now collides with an Oxford team that holds the distinct honor of being the last opponent to solve the riddle that is defeating the Indians.
Behind a miracle tipped pass that bounced out of the hands of a Pinson Valley defender and into the waiting arms of an Oxford receiver standing in the end zone, the Yellow Jackets defeated the two-time Class 6A champions, 34-33.
Since that loss, Pinson Valley has won seven consecutive games behind a defense that has often been described as one of the best units to reside in the state. The Indians have not allowed more than 14 points per game since their loss to Oxford. Even more, Pinson Valley has held three opponents scoreless in that span.
The Indians are allowing just 11.5 points per game.
In perhaps its most dominating performance to date, the Indians silenced the top-ranked offense of previously undefeated Muscle Shoals in the quarterfinals. The Trojans were only able to score 14 points despite averaging 45 points throughout the first two games of the playoffs.
Offensively, Pinson Valley has turned the corner since its 21-0 victory over Gardendale on Oct 4. Up until then, the Indians failed to score more than 33 points in a game. Following that victory over the Rockets, the Indians proceeded to put up five consecutive games with 40-plus points scored before weathering the rain and Muscle Shoal’s second-ranked defense in a 26-14 victory.
Oxford, which hosts its second straight playoff game, enters the contest after surviving Clay-Chalkville’s valiant effort in the quarterfinals, 20-13. In the Yellow Jacket’s first two playoff games, they outscored their opponents 90-14. Granted, one of those two teams, Chelsea, earned a playoff birth despite having a 5-5 record.
Pinson Valley travels to Oxford this Friday firmly in the camp that it should have defeated the Yellow Jackets in the first meeting. The Indians, winners of 13 consecutive playoff games, stumbled in the second half despite jumping out to a 19-0 lead in the first meeting.
With quarterback Barry White clicking on all cylinders, and with a receiving core that has welcomed the increased productivity of Ga’Quincy McKinstry and Keyonteze Johnson, along with a running game helmed by Kenji Christian, Pinson Valley has become a team that is dangerous on both sides of the ball.
With a third consecutive Class 6A championship berth on the line, Pinson Valley will be a formidable foe for an Oxford team seeking its first state championship since 1993.
In the semifinals, Pinson Valley is 2-0 all-time, while Oxford is 4-3 all-time.