OPELIKA, Alabama -- In a rematch of last seasons championship game, #1 Hoover Bucs used their winning formula and defeat the Opelika Bulldogs 29-7 at Bulldog Stadium. A strong running game and a dominating defense has been the formula for the Bucs to go undefeated through the regular season.

Hoover (10-0, 7-0) turn the page on the regular season and look to start another run in the 2013 AHSAA 6A playoffs. "This is where the season starts," said Bucs Head coach Josh Niblett. "We will enjoy this tonight and have a great day a school tomorrow. We will get back to work and will break down the Huntsville film and give the kids the best game plan we can give. This is where we want to be, we want to win championships."

The Bucs scored first in the game. With 9:13 left in the first quarter, quarterback Jack Hutcheson found a wide open Alex Elam behind the Bulldogs secondary for a 24-yard touchdown play. John Schmith kicked the extra point for a Bucs 7-0 lead. A heavy dose of Bradrick Shaw and a Cooper Carden pass reception were key plays in the touchdown. Hutcheson finished the game 11-of-15 passing for 113 yards and a touchdown and looks like he is gaining confidence in the Bucs passing game. "It all started back sitting out the one game," said the Bucs QB Hutcheson. "After watching the one game from the sideline, the Minor game jumped started me and I had a new perspective about the game. I learned somethings that I might not have seen on the field."

Hoover scored again in the first quarter when Shaw ran up the middle for a 6-yard touchdown run. Trey Davis scores on a two-point conversion around left end. The Bucs lead 15-0 after the first quarter. A big 25-yard run by Kyler Jackson and another dose of Shaw gets the Bucs offense down the field before the score.

Opelika gets on the scoreboard with only 1:54 left in the half when quarterback Stephen Roberts made an unbelievable play behind the line of scrimmage on a Bucs defender to escape a sack and found a wide open Marquise Fulton in the endzone. A Chazden Blackmon kick cut the Hoover lead to 15-7. Roberts had a big 40-yard run along with a Reggie Hall 11-yard run that turned out to be big plays for the Bulldogs touchdown drive. "Roberts is such a great kid, a special player," said Bulldogs Head coach Brian Blackmon. "His third game as a quarterback and to come in here and do the things that he is doing. He extends drives with his feet. He made a great pass for the touchdown before the half." Roberts, an Alabama commitment, has played cornerback all season is one of the best in the state but due to two quarterback injuries has been forced to play offense. Roberts rushed for 105 yards on 17 carries on the night.

In the second half, Opelika took the kickoff but then went three and out and turned the ball back to Hoover at the Opelika 45. A 22-yard catch from Carden and a 12-screen play to Kris Parker to the Bulldogs one yard line gave Hoover a first down at the Bulldogs 1-yard line. On the next play, Shaw goes in from 1-yard for the touchdown. The Bucs extra point made it Hoover 22-7. The Bucs last score came in the fourth quarter on a Shaw 6-yard touchdown run for his third of the game. Shaw rushed for 113 yards on 27 carries and three touchdowns. "We pounded them pretty hard in the game," said the Bucs Shaw. "The line did a great job getting a big push and opening up some big holes for me."

The Bucs defense played well again giving up only the seven points and holding Opelika to 199 total yards on the night. "Were happy for the win, but we wanted that zero on the scoreboard," said Bucs linebacker Darrell Williams. "They confused us a little bit on defense but we made some adjustments on their quarterback running the ball."

Up next are the playoffs for both teams. Last season, Opelika went 5-5 through the regular season and went all the way to the final game against Hoover. "Amazingly, our mind set is better this season from last year," added Blackmon. "We start a second season on Monday and I fully expect our team to bounce back"