Oxford Looks to Bounce Back Against Mountain Brook, which has a Spartan two-game winning streak
The Oxford Yellow Jackets will look to put last week's loss behind them when they travel to Birmingham Friday night to take on the Mountain Brook Spartans in a matchup featuring two of Alabama's Class 5A programs.
The #8 Oxford Yellow Jackets enter the contest 4-1 overall and 2-1 in Class 5A Region 6, while Mountain Brook is 3-2 overall and 2-0 in Class 5A Region 4. The Yellow Jackets are coming off their first loss of the season, a 49-14 setback at Clay-Chalkville on Sept. 18. Mountain Brook, meanwhile, enters Friday's game with momentum after defeating Chilton County 43-13 last Friday for its second consecutive victory. For Oxford, Friday provides an immediate opportunity to respond.
Oxford's 4-1 record shows how well the Yellow Jackets played during the first month of the season, but the loss to Clay-Chalkville provided the team's biggest test to date. Before that game, Oxford had won four straight. "We've had more ups than downs, you can say," said Yellow Jackets head coach Sam Adams. "We started off super hot. We had to come from behind against St. Clair County, and played a most complete game against Pell City. Clay made a ton of plays against us, and it is a good time for us to reset. We found out where our gaps are and hope to improve in some areas over the next couple of weeks."
The Yellow Jackets opened the season with a 56-28 victory over Gadsden City, followed that with a 31-21 win over Jacksonville and then defeated St. Clair County 28-21. Oxford's fourth victory came against Pell City, with the Yellow Jackets rolling to a 41-7 victory. Through five games, Oxford has scored 170 points, an average of 34.0 points per game, while allowing 126 for a 25.2 average per game.
The challenge now is responding after allowing 49 points to Clay-Chalkville. Oxford doesn't have much time to dwell on the loss. Mountain Brook presents a completely different challenge, and the Yellow Jackets will have to be prepared for a physical game on the road.
The Oxford quarterback situation is led by Maddox Mims. The junior QB was injured against Clay-Chalkville last week. Mims is a huge part of the Yellow Jackets' offense and has posted some big numbers through five games of the season. Mims has completed 38-of-61 passes for 611 yards with six touchdowns and only one interception, with 252 yards on 37 carries and eight touchdowns on the ground. Mims might be questionable to play in this non-region game and could just get ready for the next region game on October 9, as they have an open week next week. "I think he is playing with a ton more confidence than he did last year," added Adams. "He is doing a better job of participating before the ball is snapped and where it should go. Did a great job of learning our system. He has been productive in the run game that we didn't really do much of it with him last year. I am proud of his development."
Wide receiver sophomore Ethan Pate played a majority of the game against the Cougars. Pate was 8-of-10 passing for 60 yards and a touchdown last week after moving to quarterback. "Ethan is a two-sport guy and can do a lot of things with his legs as well," said Adams. "He doesn't have the arm strength, but Maddox threw a long touchdown pass against Clay last week and shows he can do it."
With Pate at receiver, Malik Smith, Ashton Clark, and serious threat Andre Ford can stretch the field at any time with his great speed. Tight end Beau Mims is a great target with his size and good hands. Also, linebacker Kamari English will see a few snaps at wide receiver and running back. English has started to play both ways back in the spring, and the Yellow Jackets feel like they can run the whole system with English in the game plan on offense.
The Oxford running game features Josh Dupree, who has played in many big games for the Yellow Jackets over the last few years. "Josh is a guy that has been productive for us for a long time," Adams added. "In the 2024 playoff run, we lost our running back in the second round of that season, and we were forced into playing him. He has been in a lot of big games. He can play many positions. He can go into receiver or jump over to DB as well. He has good hands and has made explosive plays with the football." Wide receiver Clark and linebacker Jiyez Fleming will get some carries throughout the game.
The Oxford offensive line has five senior starters and has a lot of experience here. Jaxon Elston is a South Carolina commitment. At 6 feet 4 inches and 325 pounds, 325 pounds is a load at tackle. Bryson Sanderson is committed to Memphis. Xavier Endicott made the transition from defense. Jaques Goodman plays center. Justin Pham rounds out the offensive line. This is the biggest offensive line that Adams has had since being the head coach at Oxford.
The Oxford defense has a lot of talent, starting with Jiyez Fleming. The senior linebacker was committed to Ole Miss but has come off that commitment. He has offers from Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Arkansas State, South Alabama, UAB, and a few more D1 offers. Fleming can play a little offense at running back. Chase Moten is the leading tackler with 33 tackles, with three tackles for loss. Ayden Noyola rounds out the three linebacker group in the Yellow Jackets' 3-3-5 stack defense.
The defensive lineman Zaikalem Leonard has a strong game against opponents' run games. Kelveyon Malone, Josh Stack, Jah Heard, and Kalazarus Harrison get playing time on the defense.
The Oxford secondary has English, Smith, Zyrin Ray, and Maliek Fetans. English has offers from Arkansas State, Jacksonville State, Alabama State, and Samford and is a big-time player on both sides of the ball.
Eli Pesnell handles the Oxford kicking duties this season.
Mountain Brook's season has followed a different path. The Spartans opened the year with a dominant 60-18 victory over Hueytown, but then dropped consecutive games to UMS-Wright Prep and Homewood in a region game.
Since then, Mountain Brook has responded. The Spartans shut out Helena 37-0 on Sept. 10 and followed that performance with a 43-13 victory over Chilton County last Friday.
Mountain Brook has now scored 159 points through five games, an average of 31.8 points per game, while allowing only 77. That means the Spartans are giving up just 15.4 points per game.
The recent defensive numbers are even more impressive. Mountain Brook has surrendered only 13 points total during its current two-game winning streak. That defense will now be tested by an Oxford offense that has scored 170 points this season.
"We have seen some growth in our players, and that has been fun," said Spartans head coach Chris Yeager. "We have a young team. We had to replace many good players on defense. Our offensive line had to be replaced. The goal every day is to track how this player has progressed from where they started to where they are now."
Quarterback Pruit James leads the way for the Spartans' offense. "Our system is not really an easy system to learn," added Yeager. "If someone would have told me that you can come into year one and learn it, I would have doubts. Sometimes we underestimate how we need to manage the game. Get everyone in the right place in 25 seconds and run a play. He has to take whatever play we give him, give it to our guys, and execute it. He is the link, which is a big deal to us. I love his poise and composure. He doesn't get flustered and takes responsibility when something doesn't go right."
The Spartans' running game has been by committee so far this season. Butler Teague gets most of the snaps. John Colvin will get a few snaps, but play mostly wide receiver. Beau Payne will get into the mix at running back. Teague and Payne are both sophomores. Colvin was getting the most carries early in the season. "It is so tempting to put John back there because of his yards per carry average," said Yeager. "But he takes pressure off the receivers because of his athletic skills that he has."
The wide receivers include Colvin, Brock Wilkenson, and Robinson Peer, and the tight end is Wallace Hunter. Colvin can go and get the deep ball while Hunter is a big target for Payne in short-yardage situations.
The Spartans' offensive line goes Bradley Bales, MaCallister Russell, John Bradford, Donald Menedez, and Henry Slaughter. "John is our center at 190 pounds," said Yeager. "He is such a fighter. He is one of those miniature dobermans. He doesn't know that he is small. He plays real, real big. He gets mad at himself, and sometimes I just have to talk to him about this thing called physics. He is the glue that holds our line together. We had to make him into a center. He is a hard worker, and people know that it matters to him to play well. He gets us into our numbers, our shift change, and determines the right look for us."
"The Spartans' defense has played pretty well this season. "I love their spirit. You can tell when guys like playing together," said Yeager. "Graham Smith is the mike linebacker and loves his spirit. Mason Baynes, when you are around those guys for just five minutes, you say I want to play beside them. Great leaders, selfless and givers to this team. Their ability to rally the other guys to go in one direction has been refreshing for us."
Defensive lineman Payne Pennebaker, Jackson McMakin, and Alexander Long, along with Baynes, round out the Spartans' front line. Linebackers Skip Stuermann, William Ellis, and Smith play a huge role on the defensive side.
"Two really good surprises for us have been our corners," said Yeager. "Luke Carroll and Sam Young have been unbelievable. Sam is a sophomore with a couple of picks right now and is a playmaker. Most teams when we play them during the first part of the game want to take deep shots against us, but they are pretty darn fearless." Safeties Pearson Trammell and Wyatt Sleeper round out the Spartans' secondary.
The kicking duties go to five-star kicker William Russ. The combo kicker has a great chance to do both at the next level. He has kicked a 52-yard field goal and a 54-yard punt this season.
Friday's matchup isn't a region game for Oxford or Mountain Brook, but that doesn't make it insignificant. Oxford is trying to rebound from its first loss. Mountain Brook is trying to build on consecutive victories.
The game also provides an interesting contrast between two teams that have already experienced both sides of the momentum this season. Oxford started 4-0 before losing to Clay-Chalkville. Mountain Brook started 1-2 before winning its last two. That makes Friday's game an important measuring stick for both programs.
For Oxford, the question is whether the Yellow Jackets can quickly regain the confidence and offensive production that carried them through the first four games. For Mountain Brook, the question is whether the Spartans can maintain the defensive consistency that has emerged during their winning streak.
Keys in the game for Oxford: Dupree's production will be important. If Oxford can establish the run, it could force Mountain Brook to commit additional defenders to the box, creating opportunities for Ford and Mims in the passing game. Can the big offensive line of the Yellow Jackets create some running room for the Oxford backs?
English already has four interceptions this season. Creating extra possessions could be especially important against a Mountain Brook offense that has averaged nearly 32 points per game.
Can Mountain Brook continue its defensive surge? The Spartans have shut out Helena and allowed only 13 points against Chilton County. Oxford's offense represents a significant step up in competition. Can the Spartans' offense get their committee running game going?
Oxford enters Friday looking to prove that last week's loss was a setback rather than a turning point. Mountain Brook enters with a young team gaining confidence and a defense that has allowed just 13 points over its last two games.
For the Yellow Jackets, establishing the running game and creating explosive plays will be critical. For the Spartans, the challenge will be slowing an Oxford offense that has shown the ability to score in bunches.
With neither team having a region game on the line Friday, the matchup still carries plenty of significance as both programs look to build momentum heading into the final weeks of the regular season.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Mountain Brook.
