Blackman, Hoover set for showdown

MURFREESBORO – The wait is over.

Undefeated Blackman finally gets its shot at national high school football power Hoover, Alabama at 7 p.m. on Friday when the two meet at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium — site of the SEC baseball tournament.

“They are just another great football team that we are playing against,” Blackman coach Philip Shadowens said. “We won’t be in awe.

“Obviously, they are a marquee name when you talk about high school football. It is the first name you talk about when you talk about high school football in Alabama. They play such a national schedule. But we are not bothered by who we play. I know the team we have.”

Hoover (7-2) is Alabama’s two-time defending Class 6A state champions and is ranked No. 1 in the state’s newly-created Class 7A. Hoover’s football program was made famous for being on the MTV show “Two-A-Days” with former coach Rush Propst in 2005-2006.

Shadowens said the Blackman band, cheerleaders and a pep bus are traveling to Hoover for the landmark game. No Rutherford County prep football program has ever played Hoover.

“We’re bringing everybody,” Shadowens said. “We may go broke, but we are bringing everybody. When we scheduled this game after Bowling Green (Kentucky) canceled on us I knew I wanted to get everyone involved.

“This can be a fun memory for our football program.”

The game was scheduled prior to the season after Bowling Green, Kentucky coach Kevin Wallace opted not to play Blackman in Murfreesboro and fulfill a signed two-year contract. Instead, he paid a pre-determined buyout to get out of playing the Blaze, after the Purples won a controversial game against Blackman in Bowling Green in 2013.

But that opened the door for Hoover.

While this is the second of two-year contracts for Tennessee high school teams, this was the first of a two-year contract for Alabama schools. This is a one-year deal.

“We always try to play the best competition that we can play,” Hoover coach Josh Niblett said. “It was a situation where we had some guys that reached out to some different people. We were trying to find someone that would be good to play with a location that was as central as possible.

“(Blackman) has a really good football. They had a lot of guys that are getting recruited. It was a good deal for us to play a team that is this good before the playoffs.”

Blackman (9-0) is ranked second in Class 6A behind defending state champion Maryville. The Blaze have locked up the District 7-AAA championship and a win over the Buccaneers would complete their first undefeated season in school history.

Hoover is loaded with college prospects, including three — defensive end Christian Bell (Alabama), wide receiver Justin Johnson (Mississippi State) and linebacker Darrell Williams (Auburn) — that have committed to SEC schools.

Running back Bradrick Shaw (797 rushing yards, 10 total touchdowns) has multiple college offers including Alabama, Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Junior linebacker Jeremiah Moon has an offer from Auburn for the Class of 2016. Junior corner back P.J. Hall has an offer from Mississippi State. And junior defensive back Jamarius Jordan has an offer from Missouri and Vanderbilt.

Shaw is joined in the backfield by Marcus Webb (727 rushing yards, seven TDs). Quarterback Jack Hutcheson has completed 64-of-127 passes for 980 yards with 12 TDs and eight interceptions. Johnson has 12 catches for 115 yards. Slot receiver Alex Elam leads the team with 19 catches for 347 yards.

Blackman quarterback Jauan Jennings, a Tennessee commitment, leads the Blaze offense. Jennings has competed 90-of-148 passing for 1,583 yards with 15 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He has also rushed for 610 yards with 14 TDs. Running back Charlie Davidson has 1,192 rushing yards and 16 TDs. And wide receiver Ronnie Killings leads the Blaze with 20 catches for 636 yards.

“They have a heck of a football team,” Niblett said. “They go where their quarterback and running back go. (Davidson) is close to one of the best guys we’ve seen all year. And their quarterback is a guy that just makes plays.”

“They could be the best group we’ve played all year. They are a well-coached football team that seems to play with energy and passion. They are the type of team we want to go up against.”

Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.

FRIDAY’S GAMES

(All Games at 7 p.m.)

Blackman at Hoover, Ala.*

Community at Eagleville

MTCS at Huntland

*WGNS (1450-AM, 100.5-FM)