Indians focused on the details

Pinson Valley has proven that it can play with the big boys this fall.

The Indians opened the season with a win against McAdory, perennially a Class 6A top-10 team over the past several years. Although they lost the next two games, no one batted an eye, as road tests against Ramsay and Minor are not matchups that many teams in the state would win.

In the fourth week of the season, Pinson Valley finally got the monkey off its back. The Indians hosted Clay-Chalkville, a state finalist each of the last two years, and battled the Cougars toe-to-toe. The Indian defense held down the vaunted Cougar offense and forced overtime with a 7-7 score through regulation. 

Pinson Valley pulled off the upset in double overtime, 21-14, the first time the Indians had ever defeated Clay-Chalkville in 11 tries.

“It was big, just the fact that they saw that they can beat them,” head coach Matt Glover said. “We’ve played with them before, but we’ve never beaten them.”

Glover was more impressed by his team’s response to back up the impressive win, as the Indians traveled to Walker and came away with a second consecutive region win.

“The week after that was really big for us, because in the past we’ve never been able to finish it the next week,” he said.

Wins over Shades Valley and Center Point put Pinson Valley in solid position for a playoff berth, at which point Glover took stock of his team’s progress.

“I think if you’d have told me we’d be 5-2, we’d be happy because I knew the schedule we had,” he said. “We’ve played four of the top teams in Class 6A football from the north. I’m pleased with the way our kids have progressed.”

Pinson Valley has the ability to ride all three facets of the game depending on what is clicking. As a whole, the defense has been a strong suit. Special teams have limited mistakes. The offense has done enough to consolidate the stiff play of the defense, and it has come through when needed.

According to the Alabama High School Football Historical Society, the Indians have won just five playoff games in their previous 16 appearances and have never advanced past the second round. If this year is to be different, the devil is in the details, according to Glover.

“Our preparation and attention to detail,” he said. “That’s the big thing. It’s just those simple things. We’ve seen every offense and every defensive front you can see. Now, it’s basically attention to the little details we’ve got to fix.”