Former QB, WR help lead tough Spartans defense

A lot of defenses come together from the inside out. 

The defensive line is the anchor. The linebacking corps is solidified. It’s in the secondary where there is much to be desired.

That is not the case for the Mountain Brook football team in 2016. Prior to the season kicking off in August, Spartans head coach Chris Yeager said this was one of the first seasons he could remember the shell of the defense being solidified and needing to find depth in the interior. The secondary is senior-laden, led by cornerback Reid Hogue and safety Zachary Carroll.

Those titles are relatively new to the duo. Hogue was a wide receiver at Hoover before transferring to Mountain Brook. He’s been a cornerback now for two seasons. Carroll was a quarterback his whole life before making the move to safety. 

“Basically, both of those guys moved to where we needed help,” Yeager said.

The switch from offense to defense has proved successful for both, as well as the team. Carroll is a team leader who Yeager called the anchor of the defense in the preseason. He has played a vital role this season. Hogue is a big-play cornerback, who has sealed victories this season over Helena and Oak Mountain with late-game interceptions.

Through eight games, Mountain Brook was allowing just 14.75 points per game. Only Oak Mountain, which Mountain Brook defeated 41-27, scored above its season average against the Spartans. Mountain Brook has held six of its eight opponents under 20 points. In the two games the defense allowed more than 20 points, the Spartans won.

“Our defense only works if every guy does their job,” Carroll said. “Each play I’m focused on doing my job so we can be successful.”

Hogue said he feels the same. 

“My mindset on the field is just to be prepared to make a play on any down, and before each play just see the backfield and watch for whatever the receiver does,” he said.

The two seem close. Hogue’s Twitter profile picture is of him and Carroll. The same goes for Carroll. The two compliment each other.

“Reid Hogue is a guy who battled for his spot and has been a lockdown corner all season,” Carroll said. “We definitely bring our own energy on the field and play well together. He is undersized every week, and teams have yet to be able to throw on him.”

Hogue’s praise for Carroll was just as complimentary. “Zachary Carroll is a great teammate and a guy that makes me better on the field through the way he plays,” Hogue said. “What stands out is his ability to make plays at any time.”

The win over Oak Mountain on Oct. 14 clinched a Class 7A playoff berth for the Spartans.

“Football is so important to me because of the concept of a team and working to complete your goals,” Hogue said. “Personally, this season has been great, but I still need to improve, and as a team we still have goals to reach and have to work hard to make it there.”

The goal, of course, is to run through the Class 7A playoffs to the Super 7 Finals at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium on Nov. 30.

“This season personally and for the team has been satisfying with the success we have achieved, and (we) are still hungry for more,” Carroll said. “We control our own destiny, and our goal is to win out and win our final game in Jordan-Hare.”