HOOVER—In the most highly anticipated season opening game in recent Pinson Valley memory, Hoover flexed its Class 7A muscles and made it a Saturday to forget for anyone clad in cardinal.

The Bucs (1-0) showed out for the ESPN cameras, routing the defending Class 6A state champs 52-14 in Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

Junior quarterback Robbie Ashford bounced back from a leg injury on the opening drive to toss four touchdown passes against the Indians (0-1). The first two went to highly-touted recruit George Pickens, an Auburn pledge.

Pickens beat double coverage in the end zone for a 40-yard score midway through the first quarter. He later fought off several Pinson Valley defenders for a 28-yard catch and run on the final series of the opening frame.

Ashford also hit Zach Elam for a 29-yard score and Xavier Long on a 47-yarder in the third quarter.

Pinson Valley scored its first points of the year late in the second, when Bo Nix dropped a 17-yard pitch to Keyonteze Johnson in the corner of the end zone. That connection pulled the Indians to within 7 points, but Larry McCammon returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards to the house minutes before senior kicker Will Reichard split the uprights from 36 yards out to stretch Hoover’s halftime advantage to 24-7.

Pinson Valley scored next at the 7:02 mark of the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 45-14. Jay Sharp found an opening down the right side, but his 25-yard run was too little, too late for the top-ranked Indians.

Pinson Valley opens the home portion of its schedule next Friday when Ramsay comes to Willie Adams Stadium. Hoover plays St. Johns College at home that evening.