By Gary Lloyd
TRUSSVILLE — Hewitt-Trussville took care of business Friday at Thompson.
It’ll need to do so again this week in a vital Class 7A, Region 3 clash at Mountain Brook. Like last week, this Friday’s game is key if the Huskies (4-3, 2-3) want to remain in the playoff picture.
Hoover is looking good at 5-0 in the region with remaining region games against Vestavia Hills and Hewitt-Trussville. Oak Mountain has a 4-1 region record with region games against Spain Park and Thompson. Thompson is already eliminated from playoff contention with an 0-5 mark.
Hewitt-Trussville wide receiver Dalton Meadows looks for running room against Vestavia Hills earlier this season at Jack Wood Stadium.
file photo by Ron Burkett
The scenarios for those third and fourth playoff spots are too hard to figure, but here’s an outline:
- Mountain Brook is 3-2 in the region with wins over Thompson, Vestavia Hills and Tuscaloosa County. The Spartans host Hewitt-Trussville this Friday and Spain Park next Friday.
- Hewitt-Trussville is 2-3 in the region, beating Spain Park and Thompson. The Huskies have fallen to Tuscaloosa County, Vestavia Hills, and Oak Mountain, and have remaining region games at Mountain Brook and vs. Hoover.
- Tuscaloosa County is 2-3 in region play, with wins over Hewitt-Trussville and Spain Park, but losses to Oak Mountain, Mountain Brook and Hoover. The Wildcats finish region play vs. Thompson and at Vestavia Hills.
- Spain Park is 2-3 in the region, with wins over Thompson and Vestavia Hills. The Jaguars have lost to Tuscaloosa County, Hewitt-Trussville and Hoover. Spain Park can really shake up the standings with remaining region games vs. Oak Mountain and at Mountain Brook.
- Vestavia Hills is the fourth region team currently at 2-3. The Rebels have defeated Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson, but have lost to Oak Mountain, Mountain Brook and Spain Park. Vestavia Hills finishes up region play at Hoover this week and vs. Tuscaloosa County next week.
So with two region games left for each team, the playoff picture is still muddy. The best thing these teams in the middle can do is take care of their own business, and let the standings sort themselves out. Winning takes care of that. Hewitt-Trussville will need to do just that at Mountain Brook on Friday, with an even tougher final region game against Hoover looming for Oct. 24.
This game last season was huge for a Class 6A, Region 6 playoff spot, and the Huskies came out flat at Jack Wood Stadium, losing 34-13. Quarterback Jacob Carroll threw for 144 yards and rushed for 154 more in that game, and he’s back this season. Hewitt-Trussville will need to contain him and play a sound game offensively.
Expect a down-to-the-wire game, as this is a fight for the playoffs and the Spartans have played four straight games decided by a touchdown or less.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
