Spartans push to make playoffs

The Mountain Brook High School football team has one last chance to make a charge to its first postseason berth since 2013, following consecutive losing campaigns.

The month of October presents the Spartans with three straight Class 7A, Region 3 games, which precede the regular season finale. 

An open week on Sept. 23 leads to a home game against Tuscaloosa County on the last day of September. The Spartans then travel to take on longtime rival Vestavia Hills Oct. 7 at Thompson Reynolds Stadium.

The Rebels and Spartans have matched up on the field at least once in every season since 1971, including five times in the state playoffs. The meetings between the two teams in this decade have been fairly even, with Mountain Brook winning four of the seven games since 2010. However, Vestavia Hills owned last year’s contest and ran away with a 37-7 victory.

On Oct. 14, Mountain Brook takes its last road trip of the regular season. Heardmont Park will host the Spartans’ game against Oak Mountain. The game will feature two teams that historically have sound defenses. Last fall, the Eagles capitalized on three Mountain Brook turnovers to win, 21-14. 

Oak Mountain has won the last two matchups of the two teams, but the Spartans hold a 6-4 edge in the all-time series.

Mountain Brook closes out its region slate with a game against Huffman Oct. 21. The teams have played sporadically over the years, with the Vikings holding the overall advantage, 14-12. The Spartans have won five of the last six meetings. 

Last year, the Spartans won 17-0 in their season finale on the back of five turnovers. This season, Huffman marks a region foe, the only new face in Region 3.

The Spartans conclude the regular season at home against Ramsay Oct. 28. The programs have matched up just once before, with Mountain Brook winning 14-0 in a 1974 game.