By John Goolsby, Prep Sports Editor
BIRMINGHAM – Shades Valley (2-2, 1-1) got back in the win column Friday night.
The Mounties beat Huffman (0-5, 0-3) 44-0 to get their first region win of the season and the 550th win in school history.
Valley scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams.
The Mounties were led on offense by senior running back David Ware and senior quarterback Steve Brown.
Ware scored two rushing touchdown and gained 123 yards on 12 carries. Brown threw three touchdown strikes.
Ware kicked off the scoring with a three yard run less than three minutes in the game. Jair Aguilar’s PAT was blocked and the Mounties led 6-0.
Brown hit Jayden Gilmore with a 13-yard pass with 8:11 in the half to push the Mounties lead to 13-0 after the successful Aguilar PAT.
Senior linebacker Carterrius Ford forced a fumble after sacking the Huffman quarterback in the endzone. Senior defensive lineman Kayvian Riley-Stallings pounced on the ball with 6:21 in the half for a Shades Valley score.
Quincy Crawford made an acrobatic catch from Brown to convert the two-point attempt to make the score 21-0.
The Mounties wasted little time adding points to the board in the third quarter. Ware scored on a 15-yard run 90 seconds into the half to make it a 28-point Mountie lead.
The Mounties scored on a 45-yard catch and run by Ji’Quez Daniels from Brown. Aguilar’s PAT gave the Mounties a 35-0 lead with 6:01 in the third.
With 9:07 remaining in the game, senior linebacker Ethan Johnson shot the gap and hit the Huffman quarterback, causing a fumble. The ball rolled out the back of the end zone, giving the Mounties a safety.
On the ensuing kickoff, Jacaryious Burrow scored on a 65-yard kick return to give the Mounties a 44-0 lead after the successful PAT.
“I get tired off saying we have to get better,” said head coach Rueben Nelson. “We are getting better.”
The Mounties host Bessemer City in a non-region game.