Patriots, Mustangs in key game Thursday
The Homewood Patriots have won three straight region championships. But they'll need a little help to claim a fourth.
The Patriots travel to Jackson-Olin for the final Class 6A, Region 5 game of the season in a tie for the region's best record with Walker. But because of a loss tot he Vikings at Jasper, Walker holds the tiebreaker should both teams win. A Homewood win combined with a Walker loss to Hueytown would give the Patriots another region title. If they both win, technically they are co-champs, but Walker gets the top seed.
The Patriots (6-2, 5-1 region) could drop to a tie for second with a loss and an expected Minor win over Pelham, but the Pats hold the tiebreaker over Minor.
Meanwhile, Hueytown, Jackson-Olin and Briarwood Christian all have a lot to play for. Each team is 3-3 in region play, tied for the final playoff spot. Briarwood has the easiest road, facing winless John Carroll Catholic. Even if they all lose, BCS should take the spot with a win over Walker.
In the Patriots' win over Hueytown last week, the Patriots got all the offense they needed from their defense.
Patriots defensive back Jacob Biles picked off a Hueytown pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown on the third snap of the game and linebacker Tobbie Taylor closed the half with a 59-yard pick 6 of his own to stake the Patriots to a big halftime lead as host Homewood posted a 45-16 pasting on Class 6A, Region 5 rival Hueytown on Friday at Waldrop Stadium.
For good measure on Senior Night, Patriots defensive lineman Wesley Butler scooped up a Golden Gopher fumble and scooted 19 yards for a third defensive score of the night early in the fourth quarter.
“I thought our defense played great tonight,” Patriots coach Ben Berguson said. “They scored as many points as our offense scored tonight.
“Tobbie had a big night tonight – two interceptions – the pick 6. Really proud of him.”
Berguson was happy to get the win, but he wasn’t completely satisfied.
“I was really disappointed in our offense,” the coach said. “We just really never had any consistency tonight. We had way too many pre-snap penalties, we’ll have to clean all that up for (Jackson-Olin), no doubt.”
Tim Vakakes, a Homewood High graduate, is the head coach of the Mustangs (3-5, 3-3). The stadium is at the school in the Ensley neighborhood in western Birmingham. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The Patriots lead the series 5-0.
Homewood closes the regular season at Tuscaloosa County next Friday.