Two top 10 teams in the state of Alabama face off in what will be an incredible rivalry game this week between the Mountain Brook High School Spartans and the Hoover High School Buccaneers. The Buccaneers won a fast paced game in 2017 31-21 over the Spartans thanks to standouts Shedrick Jackson (Auburn), Mike Maye (Georgia Tech), Barret Pickering (Nebraska), Khamari Brown (North Alabama), and Jacob Bodden (Liberty University). This year a new crop of talent will look to continue Hoover’s winning ways.

MVP

George Pickens

Hoover

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

Conner Dubble

Hoover

Connor will be a 3 year letterman on the Varsity football team, a 4 year letterman on the Varsity wrestling. He was selected as “Best Buc of the Month” twice, & the “Most Outstanding Sophomore Boy”. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society. Connor plans to attend Auburn University to pursue a degree in Civil or Mechanical Engineering while also pursing his Airline Transport Pilot certification.

Daniel Wilbanks

Mountain Brook

Daniel is a 3 year letterman and has been the Tip of the Spear each year. He is a two time nominee for the Birmingham High School Player of the Week and is a member of the National Honor Society and Covenant Presbyterian Church. He plans to attend the University of Alabama with a pre-health plan.

HALL OF FAME

Jeff Haley

Hoover

Jeff Haley played as a linebacker under Coach Bob Finley in this rivalry back in 1982 when it was the Berry - Mountain Brook game. It was games like these, along with the influence of Bob Finley and defensive coordinator Larry Giangrosso, that led Jeff Haley to a career in education and coaching. Coach Finley and Coach Giangrosso used the game of football to teach life lessons that impacted Jeff Haley as a player and young man. As a result, Jeff Haley has been blessed to teach and coach in the Hoover System for 29 years, coaching football and baseball during that time.

Patrick Sprague

Mountain Brook

Patrick was a three-sport athlete and a three-year starter on the football team. He was a wide receiver, kicker, punter and quarterback. His career stats include 98 receptions for 1,560 yards and 10 touchdowns. During his final game for the Spartans, it was the 2002 state semi-finals versus Hoover. He was a scholarship player at Furman University.

GAME SUMMARY

When you touch the ball five times and score on three of those, it's not hard to see why Auburn might be interested in your services. That's exactly the case for Great American Rivalry Series MVP and Auburn commit George Pickens, who led his Hoover Buccaneers offensively to a 31-7 victory over the Spartans from Mountain Brook. On those five touches, Pickens racked up an insane 269 all-purpose yards. The Bucs' defense then did its job, holding the Spartans to only seven points all evening. The win propels Hoover to yet another region crown and continues a streak of dominance for them both regionally and nationally.