Photo by James Nicholas.
An Aerial view of Jerry Hood Field during a game between Mountain Brook and Clay-Chalkville High School’s on Friday, November 17th, 2023, at Clay-Chalkville High School, Jerry Hood Field, Cougar football Stadium in Clay AL. Photo by James Nicholas
CLAY -- Parker High School’s football team will make its second trip to Cougar Stadium on Friday. The first visit came last November, when the Thundering Herd shocked the state with a 7-6 upset over No. 2 Clay-Chalkville in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs.
That loss has motivated the Cougars since that fateful evening, as the 2021 state champions’ quest to defend their crown was upended far sooner than they expected.
“You bring it up in the fact not that they put you out last year, but this is a good football team,” Clay-Chalkville head coach Drew Gilmer said. “Don’t kid yourself. Our kids know that. You see on film they’re well coached, very talented. If you don’t come and bring it, you’ll be exposed.”
To Gilmer’s point, Parker snuck into the playoffs as No. 4 seed last season. But this year, Parker has been one of the top teams in the state, posting a 12-1 record to this point and rolling unbeaten through Region 5 with wins over the likes of Mountain Brook, Mortimer Jordan and Gardendale.
This is a Parker team that ran for over 200 yards in last week’s 35-20 win over Gadsden City in the quarterfinals. The defense has been strong this year as well, allowing a shade under 13 points per game this season.
“You’ve got to play old-fashioned football,” Cougars linebacker DJ Barber said. “You’ve got to fit your keys, blow everything up. With an offense like that, you can’t go around it, you’ve got to go through it.”
As for the Cougars, they aren’t the same team as last year either. While they are once again the No. 2 team in 6A, they are built differently. Jaylen Mbakwe has made the permanent move from receiver to quarterback, and has improved each week. He rushed for five touchdowns in a midseason win over Thompson, the top team in 7A. He has continued to develop as a passer as well, throwing for five touchdowns in last week’s win over Muscle Shoals.
The defense has been stout all year as well. Outside of 33 points allowed in the Thompson win and 27 points last week over Muscle Shoals (much of that in the second half), the Cougars have allowed a total of 65 points over the other 10 games.
“We threw the football well last week and did some good things defensively,” Gilmer said. “We made a few mistakes here and there.”
Barber and Mbakwe were each sophomore contributors on the Clay-Chalkville team that won the 2021 state title. Barber said it would “mean a lot” to return to the Super 7, which will be held at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa next week.
There’s a big hurdle looming this Friday in order to get there, though. And whichever team claims victory will see either top-ranked and defending champion Saraland or Pike Road in the final.
“This time of year, everybody’s good, so put your big boy pants on and let’s go play football,” Gilmer said.
Some data from this report is courtesy of AHSFHS.org.
