Strong Second Half Lifts Hoover Past Tuscaloosa County
Northport, AL – In a pivotal Class 7A, Region 3 showdown, the Hoover Buccaneers secured their second consecutive victory with a dominant second-half performance. Hoover left Tuscaloosa County’s Wildcat Field with a 37-10 victory over the 4-3 Cats.
The first quarter of the contest was a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to find the end zone. The Wildcats grabbed a 3-0 lead in the second period as Jr Solis’ split the uprights from 27 yards out. The game’s momentum took a significant shift in the waining seconds of the second quarter when Hoover’s Jamar Moultrie made a game-changing play. He intercepted a Braeden Smith pass and sprinted for a 62-yard score giving the Bucs a slim 7-3 advantage at the break.
It was in the second half that the Buccaneer offense turned the tide.
Hoover’s Jonah Winston kicked things off in the third, scoring on a 10-yard run, and their defense contributed two points with a safety, extending the lead to 16-3 as they headed into the fourth quarter.
However, Tuscaloosa County didn’t go down without a fight. Chardarius Hutchins managed to break free for a 30-yard touchdown run, keeping the Wildcats in the game. But Hoover’s offense had the last word. Winston added another touchdown to his impressive performance with a 36-yard run. Jordan Woolen caught a 48-yard scoring pass from quarterback Noah Schuback, and Bradley Shaw, with his only carry of the game, dashed 58 yards for the game’s final touchdown.
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Hoover’s offensive versatility was on full display. They accumulated 206 yards on the ground, complemented by 114 passing yards. Schuback had an efficient night, completing 14-of- 20 throws with one touchdown and one interception. Fred Dunson was a workhorse for the Bucs, carrying the ball 18 times for 114 yards, while Winston made the most of his four attempts for 51 yards. Jordan Woolen was Schuback’s favorite target, hauling in six passes for 68 yards.
On the other side, Tuscaloosa County fought hard, with Braeden Smith completing 12-of-20 passes for 105 yards. Hutchins stood out in the running game, rushing 15 times for 112 yards, giving the home team a glimmer of hope in an otherwise challenging game.
With the victory, Hoover improves to 3-5, with a 3-2 mark in Class 7A, Region 3 play. Wade Waldrop’s Bucs travel to Chelsea (2-6, 1-4) next Friday night, hoping to carry the momentum forward, before a regular season ending showdown with the defending state champion Thompson Warriors (6-1, 5-0). The loss slips the Wildcats to 4-3 (2-3). They are set to travel to Alabaster next week to take on 2nd ranked Thompson.
