The #1 Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa Patriots steamrolled Brookwood 77-14 on Thursday night in a Class 5A Region 3 matchup moved up a day due to weather concerns. The top-ranked Patriots, now 6-0 overall and perfect in region play under coach Jamie Mitchell, continued their high-powered start to the season, averaging over 50 points per game entering the contest. They traveled to Billy Joe Young Field and dominated from the opening whistle against a struggling Panthers squad. The game had been rescheduled from Friday to Thursday at 7 p.m. because of weather.

Hillcrest jumped out quickly. Jacobi Harris scored on a 12-yard touchdown run to make it 8-0 early in the first quarter. Quarterback Jordan Shambley then connected with Trenton Curley on a 44-yard touchdown pass (15-0) and found Harris again for an 11-yard scoring strike (22-0). Corey Kimble added a 34-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 29-0 late in the first quarter.

Special teams contributed as well, with Gunner Webb returning a punt 55 yards for a touchdown, making it 36-0. Dylan Taylor scored on a 6-yard run early in the second quarter to extend the advantage to 43-0.

Brookwood finally answered when Jamarcus Jackson threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to RJ Clark, trimming the deficit to 43-7. Hillcrest responded immediately with Anthony Shepherd’s 60-yard touchdown run. Jackson then broke free for a 67-yard touchdown run of his own for the Panthers. Zion Duncan closed out the first-half scoring with an 8-yard touchdown run, sending the Patriots into the break with a commanding 56-14 lead.

The second half featured more of the same for the high-powered Hillcrest offense, as they poured on points to reach the final margin of 77-14. The Patriots have now outscored opponents by a wide margin all season and remain undefeated after previous wins including 64-0 over Tuscaloosa County, 42-20 at Hewitt-Trussville, 63-7 at Hueytown, 53-13 over Central-Tuscaloosa, and 43-7 over Northridge.

Brookwood (falling further in the standings) managed two touchdowns but could not slow the Patriots’ multi-threat attack that featured big plays through the air, on the ground, and in the return game. Hillcrest returns home next to face McAdory in another key region contest, while Brookwood looks to regroup on the road. The Patriots’ offensive firepower and defensive control continue to mark them as one of the top teams in Class 5A.