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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood quarterback Will Myers (11) runs through a tackle by Calera defensive back Ayden Slaten (32) in a game against the Eagles on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood defensive back Talton Thomas (12) moves in to tackle Calera running back Quatez Williams (6) in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood running back A.J. Crear (23) carries the ball in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood wide receiver Kylen Newell (15) catches a pass from Will Myers in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood wide receiver Kylen Newell (15) catches a pass from Will Myers in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood defensive back Talton Thomas (12) scores for the Patriots after intercepting a pass in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood quarterback Will Myers (11) throws a pass in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood quarterback Will Myers (11) passes the ball to Homewood wide receiver Kylen Newell (15) in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood wide receiver Alijah Lavender (6) catches a pass as he turns to run downfield in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood quarterback Will Myers (11) makes the toss to Homewood running back Evan Ausmer (2) in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood quarterback Will Myers (11) runs through the Calera defense to score for the Patriots in a game against the Eagles on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood defensive back Talton Thomas (12) takes the ball to the end zone after intercepting a pass in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood quarterback Will Myers (11) looks to pass the ball in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood defensive back C.J. Tidmore (8) intercepts a pass in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood inside linebacker Trust Darnell (33) tackles Calera wide receiver KD Young (8) in a game against the Eagles on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood’s Whit Armistead (29) kicks the extra point in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood running back Davis Griffin (0) runs the ball as he’s tackled by Calera linebacker Mac Graham (3) in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood wide receiver Camron Fortson (1) carries the ball after catching a pass from Will Myers in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood quarterback Will Myers (11) passes the ball to wide receiver Camron Fortson (1) in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood defensive back Maleik Smiley (5) and kicker Whit Armistead (29) tackle Calera wide receiver Elijah Bates (7) in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood quarterback Will Myers (11) catches the snap in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood running back A.J. Crear (23) carries the ball as Calera linebacker Taylor Alford (36) moves in on defense in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood quarterback Will Myers (11) looks for an open receiver in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood running back A.J. Crear (23) carries the ball in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood running backs A.J. Crear (23) and Evan Ausmer (2) celebrate Crear’s touchdown run in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood running back Evan Ausmer (2) carries the ball into the end zone in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood quarterback Will Myers (11) carries the ball in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
The Homewood student section cheers for the Patriots in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood running back Davis Griffin (0) moves to evade a tackle by Calera linebacker Mac Graham (3) in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood running back Evan Ausmer (2) carries the ball in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood wide receiver Alijah Lavender (6) is tackled by Calera linebacker Joshua Jones (15) and Calera defensive back T.J. Hernandez (1) in a game Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood quarterback Kaleb Carson (3) carries the ball in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
at Calera High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood quarterback Will Myers (11) looks for a receiver to make a play in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood running back A.J. Crear (23) scores for the Patriots in the third quarter of a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Homewood wide receiver Cameron Fortson (1) catches a pass as Calera defensive back T.J. Hernandez (1) makes the tackle in a game against Calera on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Calera High School’s Ricky M Cairns Memorial Stadium. Homewood defeated the Eagles 43-21 to earn the Patriots their first win of the season. Photo by Erin Nelson.
CALERA – Homewood High School put it together in all three phases to run away with a 43-21 win at Calera in Class 6A, Region 3 play Friday night.
“First of all, it’s nice to get a win, especially a region win on the road,” said Homewood head coach Ben Berguson. “I was really proud of the way our guys played tonight. It was the first time our starters have put together a complete game this year.”
Homewood is now 1-3 overall and 1-1 in the region. Calera drops to 0-4 and 0-2 in the region.
The Patriots forced five turnovers – one a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown by Talton Thomas – en route to the victory.
“I’m really proud of the way we responded to being 0-3,” Berguson said.
Myers threw both of those scoring passes in the first half. He threw a 30-yarder to Kylen Newell in the first quarter and hit Alijah Lavender for a 12-yard score in the second quarter. Myer scored on a 5-yard run to open the game's scoring.
Quarterback Will Myers finished 16-of-22 for 191 yards and two touchdowns. Lavender caught eight passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. Newell grabbed three passes for 69 yards and a score. The Patriots were as balanced as they could be, passing for 191 yards and rushing for 190.
Evan Ausmer put the Patriots up 22-7 on a 6-yard scoring run early in the second quarter. Thomas and Malek Smiley scored on interception returns to highlight a dominant second quarter in which the Patriots outscored Calera 22-0.
A.J. Crear scored on a 24-yard run in the third quarter, as Homewood opened up a 43-7 lead.
Calera finished with 277 total yards, 219 of which came through the air.
Homewood stays on the road next week by paying a visit to Benjamin Russell.
“Big win, helps build confidence going into next week and our next region game,” Berguson said.
Erin Nelson contributed to this story.
Check out all of our high school football photos from this week.
