By Joshua Huff, sports editor
PINSON – As the 2019 regular season rounds the final bend, the race to the top of Class 6A, Region 6 runs through undefeated Oxford. But with a little help from Clay-Chalkville and Gardendale in the coming weeks, Pinson Valley could very well find itself crowned the regular season champs should the Indians defeat Pell City this Friday and Oxford fall in its final two region games.
The Yellow Jackets currently hold a one-game lead over Pinson Valley with Clay-Chalkville and Gardendale remaining on their schedule. Both the Cougars and the Rockets have a combined record of 11-3. With a loss to both, and a Pinson Valley victory over Pell City, Oxford will slip to 4-2 in region play while Pinson Valley will sit 5-1.
Of note: Gardendale ceased to be a contender following its 21-0 loss to Pinson Valley on Oct. 4. The best the Rockets can finish in Region 6 is 5-1 with Pinson Valley holding the tie breaker.
Class 6A, Region 6
1). Oxford (7-0, 4-0)
2). Pinson Valley (5-2, 4-1)
3). Gardendale (6-1, 3-1)
4). Clay-Chalkville (5-2, 2-2)
Yet, before that can become reality, Pinson Valley will need to defeat a Pell City team that fell to Clay-Chalkville this past Friday, 49-0. The Panthers have been a master of inefficiency this season. They have scored in double-digits in only one region game this season – a 13-34 loss to Huffman.
Pell City allows on average 30 points per game and only scores 16 points per game. Those struggles in region play have amounted to only 26 points scored in four region games this season. Pinson Valley, on the other hand, has scored 26 points in all but two games this season.
Pinson Valley will enter the contest unscathed after dismantling Huffman, 42-12, this past Friday.
The 12 points scored by Huffman is the second-most points scored by a region opponent this season against Pinson Valley. Oxford scored the most in a 34-33 victory on Sept. 20. Shades Valley and Clay-Chalkville scored only seven points each, while Gardendale failed to score.
The victory was the fifth in six games for the Indians. Pinson Valley was led by two passing touchdowns from quarterback Barry White. Ga’Quincy McKinstry and Tez Johnson hauled in touchdown receptions and running back Kenji Christian rushed for 125 yards with two touchdowns.
The last time Pell City defeated Pinson Valley was a 10-7 victory dating back to 2008 in what was former head coach Wayne Lee’s final season as coach of the Indians. Overall, Pell City holds a 10-7 all-time series lead.
