Whether you’re a fan of the Patriots or not, the team’s playoff run is still very much in the works. They haven’t even reached the halfway point yet, but there is plenty to look forward to. With the Patriots having a strong defense and a young quarterback in Tom Brady, it should be a great year for them.
Despite a shaky start, the Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa Patriots have won eight straight games and will make their playoff debut on the road against the top seeded McAdory Yellow Jackets. The Patriots’ defense is a powerhouse anchored by a stout lineman in J’qudiuvant and a physical lineman in Micah Brown, but it is the offense that has the most buzz. They have scored a combined total of nine touchdowns on the season and have not allowed more than a point a game. This is a great time for the Patriots to show off their talents and take the first step towards claiming the throne.
The Patriots have scored at least one touchdown on each of their six possessions so far this season and have shown little signs of a slowdown despite a shaky start. They have shown the ability to score on the scoreboard, and have scored a slew of big plays in the red zone, but have only scored two touchdowns on the ground in the second half. The defense has also played a major role in keeping the Hillcrest offense on the field, including a pair of key stops on the final two drives of the game. This is where the Patriots really shine and it is easy to see why head coach Doug Mitchell has been such a big fan of his defense all season.
The Patriots have also displayed a well-rounded offensive line that can tackle just about anything, including the best linebacker in the state. The offensive line paved the way for the Patriots to score a slew of impressive plays on the ground in the second half.
During the last eight weeks, the New England Patriots have been quite good on all three levels of the football field. But there are a few areas the Patriots must improve. One of those areas is in the red zone. This has been a weakness throughout the season, but the Patriots are on the way to improving this area.
The Patriots defense is a very strong unit. But they need to tighten up their run defense. They have allowed 58 percent of their total rushing yards in the first three games. This includes five of their three worst rushing yards allowed totals against Baltimore Ravens (243 yards), Chicago Bears (199) and the Jets (51).
On the other hand, the Patriots have been quite good against the pass. They have allowed a passer rating of 63.3, the second best in the league, and have had four interceptions, one of which was a long pass. The Patriots also have the second best PFF grade for a pass defense, behind only the Baltimore Ravens.
The Patriots have also been very good at stopping the run, with Deatrich Wise having a career high of 5.5 sacks. They also have a solid linebacker corps led by sophomore Will Massey and senior Travis Robbins.
Ja’Whaun Bentley leads the team in tackles with 54. He is also leading the team in quarterback hits with five. He is also the top graded non-cornerback in the league. He has also had five tackles for loss, the most of any Patriots defender.
Deatrich Wise is also a very good edge rusher. He has played 79.5 percent of his defensive snaps, and has accumulated a career-high 5.5 sacks.
Matthew Judon is also a very good defender, and has led the Patriots in sacks with 11.5 in nine games. He is also on track to reach a career high in sacks of 12.5. His usage rate is 72.6 percent, which is the best in the league.
In addition to Deatrich Wise, Anfernee Jennings is also playing a bigger role this year. He has been used more than in the preseason, and has had a very strong 70.1 PFF grade against the run.
Whether you live in Tuscaloosa, or you live outside of Alabama, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School football is now part of your radio schedule. Hillcrest will broadcast its games on 95.3 the Bear, also known as WFFN-FM. The team will start airing its games in August. The Patriots are one of the top teams in the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Class 6A division, entering this season ranked fourth in the state.
The Patriots are led by two talented senior quarterbacks. Brian Robinson set the state record in rushing yards against Clay-Chalkville, with 447 yards. He also rushed for 15 touchdowns on 227 carries last season. He is also an Alabama commit.
Hillcrest dominated the first half, scoring twice. In the second half, the Patriots added two more touchdowns. On the first, quarterback Tyler Kimbrough found Decorrion Thomas in the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown. On the second, running back Jayshon Land scored a 21-yard touchdown.
Hillcrest scored the game’s final touchdown, a short run from one-foot line with 17.9 seconds left. After the game, Calera’s coach, Jeff Hamlin, talked about his team’s game-plan.
On Hillcrest’s final drive, the Patriots were flagged five times, including three in a row. The offense converted only one first down during that stretch. But on fourth and four, Hillcrest recovered a fumble and scored on a fake punt.
Jeremiah Cobb rushed for more than 2,000 yards for the third straight season. He rushed for a career total of 6,567 yards. Cobb also had 16 receptions for 377 yards. He has 90 touchdowns in his career.
Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, a public school, will compete in 12 varsity sports. The Patriots will play in the Class 6A state championships next season. AHSAA Radio Network will broadcast all state championship games. You can listen to the games on 95.3 the Bear or on the radioPup app.
The Patriots also feature quarterback Cole Frederick, who earned MVP honors last spring when Hillcrest won the 6A state baseball championship in Montgomery. He has led the team to an 11-3 record in his second season.
Several of the top teams in the Upstate are fighting to get into the Class 6A quarterfinals. With the playoffs less than three weeks away, the stakes are rising higher and higher. A victory this week could help one team make the postseason while putting the other on the short end.
The Patriots had a chance to win the game after a late drive. They were deep in Saraland territory and started a drive with a personal foul flag on their hands. The Spartans moved down the field, methodically, and drove the ball down the field. The Patriots stopped the Spartans on a third down play. But Hillcrest’s defense made big stops in the second half.
Hillcrest quarterback Ethan Crawford suffered a knee injury two weeks ago and will not play the rest of the season. So, the Patriots are going to need a strong battle tested team to beat Saraland. During the game, they will also need to have good performances from their defense.
Hillcrest had to answer quickly when it was down 21-7 in the first half. On the first drive of the second half, the Patriots moved the ball down to the 6-yard line. They scored on the first play of the drive. They then took the ball down to the goal line on the next possession. However, a fumble forced the Patriots to move the ball to their own 23-yard line. On the ensuing kickoff, they fumbled again.
The Patriots then returned the punt deep into Saraland territory. They were forced to go third and 26. They made the Spartans work for it and eventually found the end zone. They finished the game with six touchdowns.
The Spartans went on to win the game 56-31. Saraland has scored 40 or more in nine of its 12 games. They also ran the ball well, scoring 176 yards against McAdory last week. However, their season came to an end with two interceptions.
The Patriots will need to beat Pike Road next week and have a good game against the Bills to make the playoffs. They have won two games by a combined score of 80-38. The Patriots have a 36 percent chance of making the postseason.
Calera High School Offers College Readiness Ratings Whether you are a parent, a student, or a teacher, you probably have a lot of questions when it comes to the quality of the education provided by the local school. For many people, the first question is, “Do they offer college readiness ratings?” Student population Located in […]
Williamson High School Football Schedules Whether you are a student at Williamson High School or just interested in sports, you probably have a lot of questions about the football schedule for the upcoming season. It’s important to know that, while the team’s performance will depend on the players on the roster, the overall schedule is […]
Bibb County Chockaws Football Bibb County Chockaws Football: The Choctaws have had a good year so far. They have a 4-3 record on the season and are coming off a win against Jacksonville. They have also defeated Hale County. Bibb County beats Jacksonville Bibb County Choctaws football beats the Jacksonville Golden eagles by the score […]
