SPORTS

Coaching Roundup: Camper retires as Hoover’s volleyball coach, Raney retires at Spain Park Page 34 SPORTS

Thursday, November 18, 2021 ❖ OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

AHSAA 2021 Football Playoffs Second-round results Page 34

Mountain Brook junior Reagan Riley crossed the finish line at 17:39.62 to claim the individual Class 6A girls title.

Vestavia senior Crawford West turned in the fastest girls AHSAA time since 2014, clocking 17:06.33, the secondfastest time in AHSAA girls cross-country history, to win the Class 7A individual title. The Vestavia team finished second behind Auburn.

Setting the Pace

Vestavia’s West, Mountain Brook’s Riley Claim State Cross-Country Titles in Runaways

By RuBin E. GRant

Vestavia Hills senior Crawford West and Mountain Brook junior Reagan Riley distanced themselves from the field throughout the cross-country season.

So it wasn’t a surprise to see them claim individual titles Nov. 6 at the 66th Alabama High School Athletic Association State Cross Country Championships at the Oakville Indian Mounds Park & Museum 5K course near Moulton.

West turned in the fastest girls AHSAA time since 2014, clocking 17:06.33, the second-fastest time in AHSAA girls cross-country history, to win the Class 7A individual title. She also won the race as a sophomore in 2019.

“It felt special this time because I wasn’t able to finish last year,” West said. “It was great to win in my last high school cross-country meet, a great way to go out.”

West’s finish was three seconds shy of the state record 17:03.04 time run by then Montgomery Catholic eighth grader Amaris Tyynismaa.

“I wasn’t expecting to run that fast,” said West, who signed a track scholarship with the University of Alabama last week. “I can’t complain about not setting the state record because I ran my personal best. I’m very happy with a personal record.”

Riley crossed the finish line at 17:39.62 to claim the individual Class 6A girls title. Coming off hip surgery, she finished 18th in 2020 with a 20:16.64 time.

“It was super exciting to win and a ton of fun,” Riley said. “I just wanted to stretch it out. I knew there was a lot of good competition in 6A, but I knew if I could hold the pace I could out-hold anyone.”

None of the other Class 7A runners challenged West. Huntsville junior Ava McIntosh was second at 18:32.24, followed by sophomore teammate Sarah Cobb, who crossed the finish line at 18:35.73. Baker’s Lindsey Baker was fourth (18:52.29), and Auburn’s tandem of sophomore Rylee Plexico and eighth grader Olivia Tole finished fifth and sixth with times of 19:52.95 and 18:57.48, respectively.

Auburn captured the Class 7A team title with 68 points, followed by Vestavia Hills, 80, and defending state champion Hewitt-Trussville, 95.

Rebels freshman Claire Spooner (19:08.29) and sophomore Kaitlyn Wende (19:10.92) finished eighth and ninth, respectively.

Spain Park senior Mackenzie Culpepper was seventh

Showdown

Hoover, Thompson Clash Again With Super 7 Berth on the Line

By RuBin E. GRant

Seasons come and seasons go, but not before a semifinal showdown in the state football playoffs between the Hoover Bucs and the Thompson Warriors.

The Bucs (12-0) and Warriors (11-1) will clash in the Class 7A semifinals for the fifth consecutive season Friday at 7 p.m. at the Hoover Met. The winner will advance to the Class 7A championship game Dec. 1 during the Alabama High School Athletic Association Super 7 Championships at Protective Stadium in Birmingham.

Thompson, the two-time defending Class 7A champs, has won the past three semifinal matchups against Hoover. The Bucs won in 2017 en route to their last state title.

“It’s going to be an unbelievable atmosphere,” Hoover coach Josh Niblett said of Friday’s semifinal game. “Our kids will have to lock in on our preparations during the week and be ready to perform well.

“I am looking forward to it. I don’t think the first one will have anything to do with it.”

Hoover’s Cotton Peters gets by a Hewitt defender in the Bucs 24-23 overtime win last week.

See HOOVER, page 34

On the Road Again

Spartans Ready for Quarterfinal Playoff Trip to Pinson Valley

By RuBin E. GRant

Mountain Brook coach Chris Yeager is eager to take the Spartans’ state football playoff show on the road.

After posting home wins in the first two rounds, Mountain Brook (11-1) will visit Pinson Valley (9-3) in the Class 6A quarterfinals Friday at 7 p.m.

“I am very excited about going on the road,” Yeager said. “You have to go on the road sometime if you continue to win. I am glad to be going back to Pinson because that’s where it ended for us last year.”

The Indians eliminated the Spartans 27-10 in the 2020 semifinals at Pinson.

“They’ve got a good environment,” Yeager added. “They’ve got good turf, so I’d rather be going somewhere with turf instead of natural grass. And it’s not a small facility, so that’s exciting too.”

Mountain Brook advanced to the quarterfinals with a 45-14 victory against Jackson-Olin (9-3) last Friday at Spartan Stadium.

Junior quarterback John Colvin threw three touchdown passes to junior receiver Jackson Beatty and junior running back Will Waldrop ran 24 times for 182 yards and three

scores.

“We played complementary football,” Colvin said. “Our offense helped our defense, our defense helped our offense and our special

‘You have to go on the road sometime if you continue to win. I am glad to be going back to Pinson because that’s where it ended for us last year.’

MOUNTAIN BROOK COACH CHRIS YEAGER