Tuscaloosa County at Spain Park Postgame Analysis [VIDEO]

HOOVER – The Tuscaloosa County Wildcats were unable to hang tight for four full quarters Friday night, falling behind in the second half in a 24-0 loss at Spain Park.

After a 7-0 halftime lead, the Jaguars (3-1, 2-0 Class 7A, Region 3) scored 17 second-half points, 14 in the fourth quarter, to put the game out of reach.

Spain Park defensive back Bryan Sanderson scored the game’s final touchdown on a 42-yard interception return with 6:13 to go. On County High’s subsequent drive, he picked off his second pass on the Wildcats’ first play from scrimmage.

Friday night’s contest, just the fourth in series history and the first-ever played between the two schools at Spain Park, was delayed 80 minutes due to inclement weather. Lightning was spotted in the area just before the game’s opening kickoff, forcing the teams and fans out of the stadium until the storms passed.

Once the game began, neither team was able to find much success offensively in the first half. County High was the first team to cross into the opposing team’s territory, reaching as far as the Spain Park 36 late in the first quarter before the Jaguars forced them to punt.

Later, Spain Park took advantage of good starting field position to score the game’s opening points on running back Wade Streeter’s 4-yard plunge into the end zone with 1:06 to go in the half.

Streeter carried the ball 23 times for 139 yards and two touchdowns, the second coming on a 15-yard run just before Sanderson’s interception return. The senior led all rushers in the game.

Kicker Crosby Gray, who converted five field goals a week earlier in a 15-14 win over Thompson, hit a 32-yard field goal in the closing stages of the third.

Defensively, County High forced six punts, including three three-and-outs to begin the game.

In the video above, County High play-by-play announcer Justin Baker provides his postgame thoughts.

The Wildcats (0-3, 0-2) will host Oak Mountain in its home opener next Friday. The Eagles (0-3, 0-2), a region foe, will also be searching for their first win of the season.

You can follow the live call of the game on Tide 99.1 FM, http://tide991.com/listen-live or on your mobile device using the radioPup app. Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m.

Scoring Summary:

Tuscaloosa County 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Spain Park 0 – 7 – 3 – 14

SP – Streeter 4 run (Gray kick) 1:06 2nd

SP – Gray 32 field goal 2:33 3rd

SP – Streeter 15 run (Gray kick) 7:27 4th

SP – Sanderson 42 interception return (Gray kick) 6:13 4th