NJN Big Game: Mortimer Jordan vs Corner

Class 5A, Region 6 will begin to take shape this week. It has has no choice but to. 

Fourth-ranked Mortimer Jordan (2-1, 1-0) invites league foe Corner (3-0, 1-0) on to Jimmie Trotter Field on Friday night in what is sure to be a game that sets the regional pecking order moving forward. 

The Yellow Jackets are off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2006 when they climbed into the second round of the state playoffs with a mark of 8-4. Mortimer Jordan, coming off a state championship appearance, has regrouped after starting 2016 with a loss at Class 4A No. 1 Cordova. 

In the wake of a 21-14 loss on opening night, the Blue Devils have gone on to dispatch Class 6A Pelham, 42-14, and region test Springville, 40-0. 

Mortimer Jordan head coach Dusty Goode is expected to serve up a hardy dish of senior ball carrier Spencer Brown on Friday. Brown has already ran for 429 yards and 10 touchdowns through the early part of the season. 

If he continues carving up defenses, he’ll have to do so on a Corner unit yielding 13.6 points per contest. Offensively, the Yellow Jackets look to dual-threat quarterback Devne Daniel, who found the end zone three times last week against Fairview. 


Gardendale vs Carver (Birmingham)

It will be a battle of unbeatens on Friday night at Gardendale, and this time there’s Class 6A, Region 6 implications on the line. 

The No. 8 Rockets are off to a hot 3-0 start against a tough three-game stretch, but this week will mark their first league contest of the year. The visitors—Carver Birmingham—also hold a 3-0 start, with its latest win coming over Region 6 member, Center Point by a 28-26 margin. 

Carver (Birmingham) notched a pair of Class 5A wins over Sumter Central, 34-8, and Woodlawn, 13-9, before opening league play last week. The Rams average 25 points per game while holding their opponents to 14.3 points.

Gardendale, coming off a shutout 36-0 win over Pell City, has allowed no more than 13 points to anyone. On the other side of the ball, head coach Matt Plunkett’s offense, under the guidance of first-year starting quarterback Michael Crowder, averages 25.3 points per outing. 


Fultondale vs Saint James

They’ve said it for years, and for years, they’ve been right: speed kills. 

It certainly did on Friday night when Fultondale (2-0, 1-0 Class 3A, Region 6) ran circles around Hanceville, 59-8. It was big play after big play for the Wildcats, wether they were on offense, defense or special teams in the region opener. 

If Jayson Jones, only a freshman for Fultondale, can continue providing open field magic like he did on Friday, his team should go blow for blow with Class 4A Saint James this week. Jones is now tied for fifth in state history, according to Alabama High School Athletics Association records, with an interception return of 102 yards in the win over Hanceville. He also scored as a quarterback (39-yard run) and as a punt returner (60-yard return).

The Trojans (2-1) enter this week’s contest following a 35-7 beating of Catholic Montgomery. They started the year with a 21-0 win at Bayside Academy and followed it up with a 21-12 home loss to Montgomery Academy. 

Tabernacle Christian at New Life

Tabernacle Christian gets back on the field this week after a cancelation from Gunn last Friday. According to Torches head man Keith Dabbs, Gunn discontinued football leading up to this season. 

Dabbs and the 2-0 Torches will now visit New Life Christian in Millbrook for a region contest. New Life is coming off a 56-28 win over First Assembly Christian last Friday. 

Before the off week, Tabernacle Christian enjoyed a 42-28 win over Hope Christian followed by a 40-28 win at Victory Christian. In both outings, Dabbs fed senior running back Josh Florence, who has 393 yards and six rushing touchdowns through two games. 


Pinson Valley vs Clay-Chalkville

By Danny Joiner, for The North Jefferson News

Clay-Chalkville head coach Jerry Hood will travel to Willie Adams Stadium this Friday evening to take on Matt Glover’s Pinson Valley Indians.

Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley High Schools share more than just a zip code. Both schools have a passion for football that can be seen and heard every Friday night. Packed stadiums, a wild student section and tremendous bands are the norm. Each school has produced college players in the past and both are still loaded with up and coming talent.

This is where the programs differ: the top-ranked Cougars come in at 3-0, 1-0 in Class 6A, Region 6, while Pinson Valley is 1-2, 0-1. Clay-Chalkville seemed to breeze past its first three opponents by a combined score of 122-92. The Indians on the other hand, started off with a win over McAdory, but have come up short the last two games to Ramsay, 31-15, and Minor, 45-13, last week.

Early errors have made it difficult for Pinson Valley. Fumbles, dropped passes and turnovers end up leaving the defense in difficult positions. If Pinson Valley wants to win this rivalry for the first time, it’s going to have to play a perfect game. Otherwise, Clay-Chalkville will take advantage of every mistake the hosts make.

Erik Harris is the Sports Editor of The North Jefferson News. Email him at njnsports@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jeharris2.