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HOOVER, Alabama -- The #2 Hoover Bucs turned in a solid defensive performance and defeated #4 Spain Park 26-8 at the Hoover Met Friday night. The Bucs front seven pressured the Jags offense all game long and gave Spain Park a hard time on moving the ball consistently.

Hoover (3-1, 2-0) knew that they had lost the last two game to Spain Park coming into the game and wanted to start their own winning streak against their cross-town rivals. "What a blessing tonight, we have some great kids, they knew what the elephant in the room was losing to Spain Park the last two games," said Bucs Head coach Josh Niblett. "We still have to finish drives and we have to get off the field on third downs on defense. I'm proud of our kids the way they played tonight."

The Bucs defense created four turnovers and only 227 yards of total offense for Spain Park. Defensive back Chase Brown had two interceptions for the Bucs defense. "I was on man coverage on the tight end and I just saw the quarterbacks eyes go that way and just went after the throw," said Bucs DB Brown. "On the second one look the corner post and I just jumped the route. Going against our defense in practice with the speed of our receivers just makes us better defensive backs practicing against those great receivers we have."

Hoover scored first in the game on a Barrett Pickering 47-yard field goal with 10:03 left in the first quarter. With 4:21 left in the first quarter, Pickering hit again, this time from 23-yards out and the Bucs led 6-0. With :41 seconds left in the first quarter, QB Garrett Farquhar raced in from 9-yards out for a Bucs touchdown. Pickering kicked the extra point and Hoover led 13-0 after the first quarter.

Hoover scored again when Pickering hit his third field goal of the night on a 20-yard field goal. With the kick, Hoover led 19-0 with 2:12 left in the half. Hoover took a 19-0 lead going into halftime and the Bucs defense made a goal line stand late in the first half to keep Spain Park off the scoreboard. "We played hard and fast on defense tonight," added Niblett. "We played a lot of guys and that was key a for us."

In the second half, Spain Park (3-1, 1-1) scored on a Hunter Howell pass to William Mee on an 8-yard touchdown play for the Jags. With the touchdown, Spain Park cut the Bucs lead to 19-8 with 11:48 left in the game. "We played a great football team and it showed that they are a better football team right now," said Jags Head coach Shawn Raney. "We have a lot to work on. We have some good parts, but some of our young guys have to get better. We have to rebound and we have a tough Mountain Brook coming in next week."

Hoover finished out the scoring when running back Vonte Brackett scored on a 55-yard touchdown run. Pickering kicked the PAT and Hoover led 26-8 with 10:39 left in the game.

Hoover had 357 yards of offense on the night. Farquhar was 18-of-28 passing for 167 yards and an interception along with a touchdown run. Brackett had 61 yards rushing, Cortez Hall had five catches for 62 yards on the night. On defense, Kholbe Coleman had 11 tackles on the night.