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SPORTS
Hapy Homecoming: Vestavia Hills celebrates Homecoming week with big win Page 30
The Natural: Shirley getting a kick out of playing Football for Vestavia Hills Page 30SPORTS
Thursday, October 6, 2022 ❖ OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Parris Embraces Role as Homewood’s Go-To Receiver
By RuBin E. GRant
Homewood senior receiver Jackson Parris served notice in the Patriots’ first football game that he was ready to have a breakout season.
Parris fielded a punt and weaved 65 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter of Homewood’s season-opening 38-20 victory against John Carroll Catholic. It was the Patriots’ first punt return for a touchdown in three years.
“It all happened so fast,” Parris said. “I made one guy miss and then I cut back. I went from
one side of the field and reversed it back to the other side and just went into the end zone.”
Homewood head coach Ben Berguson especially enjoyed it.
“That was so cool,” Berguson said. “We hadn’t had one in a while, then all of a sudden he busted it.”
Three weeks ago, Parris turned in another spectacular play when he caught a 95-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Woods Ray in Homewood’s 31-24 homecoming victory against Benjamin Russell.
See PARRIS, page 31
Jackson Parris
PLAYMAKER
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
Briarwood Christian’s new volleyball coach, Luann Causey, far right with Lion leaders Jolee Giadrosich and Stella Helms. Giadrosich recently surpassed 1,000 assists for her career and now holds the school record. Helms is in line to become the school’s career leader in kills, digs and blocks before she’s finished.
Up for the Challenge
By RuBin E. GRant
A few months after being named Briarwood Christian’s new volleyball coach, Luann Causey threw down the gauntlet for her players.
They accepted the challenge and in the first seven weeks of the 2022 season posted a 33-12 record.
“We have a lot of talent, but they have never been challenged the way I challenged them,” Causey said. “I wanted to get them playing at a high level with the capability of doing more than they thought they could.”
During the summer, Causey scheduled early morning workouts, had her players attend a team camp at the University of South Alabama and played in a competitive local summer league in Hoover.
If that wasn’t enough, she put together a demanding schedule, including a few top tournaments such as the Juanita Boddie Tournament and the Heffstrong Tournament.
“I don’t know if Briarwood has ever played a schedule like this,” Causey said. “I wanted them to play as much volleyball as they could.
“We have good chemistry and I am hard on them, but I love them and they have responded with respect. Right now, we’re a little tired and are fighting some tweaks, such as ankle injuries, but overall they have done well.”
Double Trouble
Gallaspy Twins Energizing Vestavia Hills’ Flag Football Team
By RuBin E. GRant
Identical twins Ella and Abby Gallaspy had been wanting to play football for some time.
They would go out in their Vestavia Hills neighborhood and play throw and catch.
“We had a really good time,” Abby said. “I always thought, ‘Why can’t we play football?’”
When the Alabama High School Athletic Association sanctioned flag football as a sport in 2021, the Gallaspy twins jumped at the chance to play for Vestavia Hills’ team.
“I was super excited when I heard about it,” Ella said. “I’m very competitive and I love football, so I like having the opportunity to play.”
This fall, Ella and Abby, who are seniors, are enjoying splendid seasons, helping the Rebels to an 8-1 record. They won four games last week, beating Homewood 33-0 and Spain Park 20-0 at home and Central-Phenix City (26-18) and Smiths Station (26-7) on the road.
Ella, who throws left-handed, plays quarterback and Abby plays linebacker.
“They are very athletic,” Vestavia Hills coach Debra Broome said. “Ella is a pretty good quarterback. She was our quarterback last year. Abby does a good job collecting flags and we rush her a lot too.”
Ella, the older of the two by a minute, loves being the quarterback. She accounted for several touchdowns in three of the Rebel’s four wins last week.
“It’s a very difficult position from a skill standpoint, learning to make all the throws,” she said. “But it’s also a lot of fun.”
Abby says it’s a funny story how she wound up on defense instead of catching passes from her sister.
“I had a hard time memorizing all the plays,” she said with a laugh. “We don’t have arm bands like you see in football and for the life of me I couldn’t remember the plays, so they put me on defense.” Playing flag football has become a bit of a balancing act for the twins because both also play in the Vestavia Hills marching band. Ella plays snare drum in the drum line and Abby plays the saxophone.
