HOOVER, Alabama -- With only 50 seconds left in the game, Brock Bradley hit Corey Barber on a 9-yard fade route to give the Spain Park Jaguars a 39-37 win over cross-town rival Hoover in a classic matchup between the two schools. With 2:29 left in the game, Hoover took the lead on a 9-yard touchdown run by Anthony Allen, and the Bucs led late in the game.

Both teams traded scores in the fourth quarter before Spain Park came out on top. "I'm so proud of these kids, coaches, and our community; we have a good thing going over there on Jaguar Drive," said Jags head coach Tim Vakakes. "I told them the toughest team would figure out a way to win, and they did. Hats off to Hoover; what a heck of a ballgame. I'm so proud of our team. There is no quarterback in the country that I would rather have behind center than Brock Bradley."

Hoover (1-1) scored first in the game when Mac Beason found Avery Crawford in the back of the Jags secondary, and the Bucs took a 6-0 lead with 8:02 left in the first quarter. The extra point was missed. With 1:20 left in the first quarter, Barber's screen pass to Mitchell Frazier, who found CJ Crowley for a 13-yard touchdown, who made a diving catch in the back corner, gave the Jags an early 7-6 lead. 

After Hoover fumbled the ensuing kickoff, the Jags scored again. With 23 seconds left in the first quarter, Bradley found sophomore Connor Greb in the end zone, and Spain Park extended their lead to 14-6. With Spain Park back in their own territory, a Bradley to Barber slant pass play goes 83 yards for a Jags score, and Spain Park led 20-6. With 4:18 left in the second quarter, Jabari Mosley scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, and yet again, the extra point was missed, and the Jags still led 20-12 late in the first half. Spain Park took the 20-12 lead into halftime.

With Hoover driving midway through the third quarter, a Bucs pass was tipped in the air by a Hoover receiver, and Payton Wood picked off the pass and raced 86 yards for a Jag touchdown, and that was the third costly turnover for Hoover. With 4:30 left in the third quarter, Spain Park led 27-12, but the Bucs were not done as they responded after their turnover. With 2:44 left in the third quarter, Keilan Jefferson scores on a 2-yard touchdown run, and Hoover cut the Jags lead to 27-19.

With 10:38 in the fourth quarter, Hoover responded again; this time, Beason went up top to wide receiver ArMari Towns on a 13-yard touchdown pass play. The Bucs trailed 27-25, waiting on the two-point conversion try. On the conversion, Hayes takes a swing pass from Beason and scores, and the Bucs tie the game at 27-27 early in the fourth quarter. Hoover gets a significant stop on defense, and with 5:59 left in the game, James Bryant, the hero from last week, kicks a 49-yard field goal, and Hoover takes a 30-27 lead late in the game. 

Spain Park (2-0) would not be denied, though, as with 4:11 left in the game, Dakarai Shanks scores on a 6-yard touchdown run set up by a double reverse pass that flipped the field for the Jaguars. Spain Park took back the lead at 33-30 with the score. "It was great, I love my team," said Jags WR Barber. "People doubted us all week, but we put in the work and knew we would come in here and win."  Hoover took their turn on offense and drove the field, and the Allen score put Hoover up 37-33 with 2:29 left in the game. 

On the Spain Park last drive of the game, Hoover needed a defensive stand but couldn't get it as the Jags converted on a 4th and 11on a Bradley scramble and a tipped pass in the end zone that was almost picked off before the Barber winning catch. "We worked that two-minute drill all the time," said Jags QB Bradley. "We didn't panic, and I'm so proud of this team. We felt like we played together, and we battled in the fourth quarter. This means so much, taking this city back. This is what I dreamed of my whole life. To do that is such a great feeling."

Bradley completed 19-of-26 passing for 340 yards and three touchdowns for Spain Park. Barber had nine receptions for 209 yards and two touchdowns. For Hoover, Beason completed 20-of-30 passing for 292 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Next, Spain Park's 2024 schedule has an open date, while Hoover will travel to Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa to take on the Patriots in a key 7A, Region 3 game.