Phil Campbell football clinches region’s final playoff spot after huge win over Hanceville

On Friday night the Phil Campbell High School varsity football team was faced with a ‘win and you’re in the playoffs’ scenario when the Hanceville Bulldogs came to Parrish Stadium for both teams’ region finale.

The stakes were high for PCHS with the fourth and final playoff spot in Class 3A Region 5 on the line, but if there was pressure the Bobcats didn't look like they felt it. On Senior Night, PCHS put Hanceville away swiftly and ultimately won the game 76-29.

“It’s very exciting and I’m really proud of the kids,” third-year Phil Campbell head coach Jacob Hamilton said. “(Making the playoffs) was one of our goals, and I’m really happy for our seniors that on Senior Night they got to make their mark and they’ll get one more game.

“It was a great team effort and I’m excited for my kids,” he added.

Hamilton had high praise for his senior class of players who were honored before the game. Without those players, Hamilton said, the Bobcats would not be where they are at this point in the season.

“I’ve got a great group of seniors. They’re our leaders and they mean everything to us,” he said. “They’re great kids, great leaders, they do things the right way and I believe that’s the reason why we’re having the success we’re having now.

“I told them that this senior class is setting the standard, setting the tone for what Phil Campbell football is going to be in the future,” Hamilton added. “They’re leaving their mark on this program.”

When the game did kick off the Bobcats got off to a flying start.

Junior quarterback Hayston Scott, after slightly overthrowing a wide open receiver on the first play from scrimmage and having his rushing touchdown called back later in the drive, found senior Hagen Raper for a 28-yard touchdown pass-and-catch to put the hosts up 7-0 after the extra point.

Almost immediately the Bobcats regained possession thanks to an interception thrown on Hanceville’s first play from scrimmage. That gave the Bobcats fantastic field position and they took advantage of it a couple plays later. A Scott completion to receiver Austin Elliott took the ball down to the HHS two-yard line where running back Braxton Downey was able to cap the drive with a rushing touchdown to put PCHS up 13-0 with 9:55 left in the first.

A Bulldog safety a little later in the quarter gave the Bobcats a 15-0 lead and led to Hanceville kicking the ball off to PCHS. On that kick, Raper recovered it from the PCHS 48-yard line and took it all the way back for a special teams score.

Raper’s second touchdown of the first quarter gave his team the 21-0 advantage.

Hanceville was able to pull a touchdown back with 4:11 still left to play in the opening period, but Bobcats were once again able to strike quickly and respond. On the first play from scrimmage after the kickoff, Scott hit Elliott for a long, 61-yard touchdown to put PCHS back up by three scores.

From there the rout was really on (if it wasn’t already). PCHS would go on to score 48 more points in the game. Scott would finish the game with 14 completions, including four for touchdowns which were caught by senior Jayden Taylor, junior Chandler Benford, Raper, and Elliott.

On the ground, Downey ended his night with 13 carries for 178 yards and Raper had three rushes for 86 yards and a score. Scott also recorded a rushing touchdown.

“We were able to execute our offense. We were throwing it really well and efficiently but also able to keep the ground game going. It was a great offensive night,” Hamilton said.

The PCHS head coach added that a lot of younger and inexperienced players were able to get game-time reps and contribute, as well.

“We were able to get the young bucks in and I’m glad that everyone got to play, everyone got to get the experience,” he said.

In addition to clinching a postseason berth and getting a big win on Senior Night, Phil Campbell’s victory also set a new program record for points scored in a game. The Bobcats’ 76 points broke a mark set last year in their 64-22 win over Red Bay.

“We set the school record again for points in a game. We did that last year against Red Bay, and it was another goal the kids had at the beginning of the year—they wanted to break that record again. I’m glad we were able to do that,” Hamilton said.

Speaking of Red Bay, that’s who the Bobcats will wrap up their regular season against next week.

After blowing out a two-win Tigers team last campaign, Phil Campbell will be up against a much-improved Red Bay that has claimed a region title and will boast an 8-1 record heading into the matchup.

Both teams have clinched postseason berths but neither are looking past each other in this regular season finale rivalry game.

For Hamilton and the Bobcats there’s also more than just bragging rights at stake; a win over the Tigers would give PCHS a winning regular season for the first time in three years.

“We’re going to be heavily focused on this Red Bay game just because it means so much,” Hamilton said. “(A win) would give us a winning season; it’s Red Bay, it’s a rivalry game, and they’ve gotten so much better. Coach (Tyler) Jeffreys has done a really great job, and they’re a really good football team.

“It’s going to be a great game, an intense game,” he added. “Obviously we’re excited to make the playoffs, but we’re not finished yet. Our goal is a winning season and Red Bay is in the way of that.

“We’ve got to have a great week of practice and we’ve got to be prepared because we want that one. It’s also potentially our seniors’ last night playing in Parrish Stadium, so we want to go out with a bang. The kids know the task at hand, they know Red Bay is a good team and we’ve got to be ready for them. We’ll wait to start looking at Piedmont (PCHS’ first round playoff opponent) after that.”