Four Alabama football powers finish in the National top 100
Birmingham, AL – Four Alabama gridiron powers finished the season in the High School Football America National Top 100.
Hoover Bucs (11-3) 7A State Champions
The Hoover Bucs finished the season as Alabama’s highest nationally ranked team at No. 42. The Bucs only losses came at the hands of nationally ranked IMG-Academy (No. 3), Thompson (No. 64) and Grayson, GA (No. 74). Josh Niblett’s 10th year at the helm of the Hoover program was highlighted by regular season wins over rivals Spain Park, Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills and a semi-final victory over region champ Thompson. The Bucs closed out 2017 with their 13th state championship on the gridiron.
Thompson Warriors (12-1) 7A Region 3 Champions
Mark Freeman’s Thompson Warriors posted the second most successful season in school history in 2017. The Warriors closed out their final season at Larry Simmons Stadium in style posting a 12-1 record and claiming their first region championship since 1997. The potent Warrior offense pilled up 496 points while scoring north of 40 points in seven contests.
McGill-Toolen Catholic Yellow Jackets (13-1) 7A Region 1 Champions
The McGill-Toolen Catholic Yellow Jackets came up one game short of bringing home their second state title in 2017. Earnest Hill finished his first season in Mobile with an undefeated regular season, 7A region 1 title and a thrilling victory over No. 1 ranked Central-Phenix City in the 7A semi-finals. The Jackets fell to Hoover 40-28 in the Super 7 state title game to close out the season at 13-1.
Central-Phenix City Red Devils (11-1) 7A Region 2 Champions
Central-Phenix City put up 565 points and gave up only 190 while finishing the regular season undefeated and ranked at the top of the ASWA 7A Top 10. Many thought the Red Devils were a shoe-in to represent the south in the 7A title game at Bryant-Denny until McGill-Toolen ended their season, beating Central by one in overtime in the 7A semi-finals.
