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Hewitt-Trussville quarterback Peyton Floyd (7) looks for running room during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover head coach Wade Waldrop prior to a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover players huddle during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover linebacker Bradley Shaw (7) and Hewitt-Trussville offensive lineman Mason Holloway (72) battle during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hewitt-Trussville players fan out for a kickoff during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Julia Freeman.
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Hoover fans during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Julia Freeman.
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Hewitt-Trussville outside linebacker Jadon Cantley (20) holds onto Hoover wide receiver Fred Dunson (0) during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Julia Freeman.
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Hewitt-Trussville wide receiver Jacob Serena (14) attempts to stop Hoover defensive back Treshawn Darden (25) after an interception during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Julia Freeman.
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Hewitt-Trussville defensive back Gavin Williams (4) and Hewitt-Trussville defensive lineman Ayden Moore (13) celebrate a big stop during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Julia Freeman.
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Hewitt-Trussville running back James Kelly (22) runs for a big gain during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Julia Freeman.
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Hewitt-Trussville players enter the field during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Julia Freeman.
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Hewitt-Trussville defensive back Riggs Dunn (12) looks at the coin toss during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Julia Freeman.
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Members of the Hoover band perform during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Julia Freeman.
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Hoover running back Chalmers Peters (12) attempts to cut upfield during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hewitt-Trussville fans celebrate a touchdown during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Members of the Hewitt-Trussville band perform during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Members of the Hewitt-Trussville band perform during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hewitt-Trussville wide receiver Jacob Serena (14) grabs a pass during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover wide receiver Jonah Winston (4) sprints down the sideline with Hewitt-Trussville defensive back Riggs Dunn (12) in pursuit during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover tight end Christopher Warren (1) splits two Hewitt-Trussville defenders to make a catch during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover quarterback Noah Schuback (10) throws a pass during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL.b
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Hoover wide receiver Jordan Woolen (6) looks upfield after a catch during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover defensive lineman Michael Nixon (10) stops Hewitt-Trussville quarterback Peyton Floyd (7) during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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=Hewitt-Trussville captains Hewitt-Trussville running back Jaqson Melton (5), Hewitt-Trussville defensive back Riggs Dunn (12), Hewitt-Trussville quarterback Peyton Floyd (7), and Hewitt-Trussville tight end Donovan Price (33) enter the field for the coin toss during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover defensive back Kasey Zylstra (30) pressures Hewitt-Trussville quarterback Peyton Floyd (7) during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hoover wide receiver DeMarion Gardner (18) comes down with a catch during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Member of the Hoover High AFJROTC prepare to present the colors prior to a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
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Hewitt-Trussville fans during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Julia Freeman.
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Hoover Cheerleaders prior to a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo by Barry Stephenson.
HOOVER – The taste of victory was sweet for Peyton Floyd on Friday night.
Literally. In the form of a chocolate cupcake.
The senior quarterback for Hewitt-Trussville High School earned arguably the biggest win of his career on the night of his 18th birthday, as the Huskies notched a 28-7 win over Hoover. There were plenty of cupcakes to go around in the postgame celebration.
He’s been looking forward to this day for a long time, according to Josh Floyd, his dad and head coach.
“Peyton figured out about five or six years ago he was going to be playing on his birthday his senior year,” Josh Floyd said following the game.
Peyton and the rest of his teammates delivered the best birthday gift they could, as the Huskies won for only the fifth time ever against Hoover. It’s just the second win for the program at the Met, the other one coming way back in 1997.
“It’s huge,” said Josh Floyd, whose Hewitt-Trussville team improves to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in Class 7A, Region 3 with the win. “I say this out of respect to Hoover, this is one of those program wins. They’re hard to beat and everybody knows that. We’ve lost some heartbreakers on this field.”
The only hearts left broken on this night belonged to the Bucs, who fell to 1-4 overall and 1-2 in region play. Hoover amassed 152 total yards, much of that accumulated on two drives.
“We’re searching for answers right now and we’re obviously not doing a good job of finding them,” Hoover head coach Wade Waldrop said following the game. “Our kids played hard. They stayed together after a tough week. We’ve got to do a better job as coaches, everybody’s got to do a better job. We’ve got a long way to go.”
Both coaches agreed the game turned on a sequence early in the second quarter. Hoover put together a 21-play drive and marched all the way inside the Huskies’ 1-yard line. But the Bucs were stopped on fourth-and-goal, coming away with nothing.
However, the Hoover defense rallied and forced what seemed to be a quick three and out. But on third down, the Bucs were assessed a sideline interference penalty, giving Hewitt new life and a first down. The Huskies went on to finish the 99-yard drive with the first of Peyton Floyd’s three touchdown runs.
“The defense was incredible tonight,” Josh Floyd said. “The biggest thing is the goal line stand. We didn’t start out very well offensively. They were moving the ball on us, but our guys were tough and stepped it up there at the end.”
Hewitt was aided by another penalty on its second scoring drive late in the half, as Peyton Floyd scored on a 2-yard run with 13 seconds left in the half to give the Huskies a 14-0 edge at the break.
The third quarter featured much of the same, as the Huskies scored on back-to-back drives to put the game away. Floyd ran it in from a yard out to make it 21-0, and later found Dylan Cope open over the middle for a 19-yard score to push the lead to 28-0 late in the third.
Floyd’s stat line won’t be displayed in a museum, but that didn’t matter. He completed 10-of-17 passes for 125 yards, a touchdown and a pair of interceptions. He rushed it 22 times for 61 yards, with the three scores.
“The goal first and foremost is to win,” he said. “Your stat line may not look as good some weeks. Tonight was one of those nights where we were just trying to win.”
Hoover’s lone touchdown came in the fourth quarter, on a 6-yard pass from Noah Schuback to Avery Crawford.
Hoover’s defense played well much of the evening, holding the Huskies to 248 total yards. Treshawn Darden and Trey Sanders intercepted passes, while Jamar Jones notched a third-down sack on the first drive of the game.
Hewitt’s defense bottled up the Hoover running attack, holding the Bucs to 56 rushing yards. That made life difficult for the passing game, and Ayden Moore’s sack in the second quarter was among several negative plays for the offense.
For the Huskies, Jaqson Melton rushed for 21 yards on 8 carries. Cope was the leading receiver, with 5 grabs for 54 yards. Jacob Serena had a few big catches, totaling 46 yards on 3 receptions. Jadon Loving caught a couple passes for 25 yards.
Schuback was 14-of-29 for 96 yards, and rushed for 20 yards. Kamal Amerson was the Bucs’ leading rusher with 10 carries for 29 yards. Jordan Woolen had 6 catches for 44 yards.
Next week, both teams take a break from region play. Hoover hosts Mountain Brook, while Hewitt-Trussville hosts Huffman.
While there is still plenty of business to take care of over the second half of the season, the Huskies have improved to 3-0 in region play and will now hold any tiebreakers over Hoover should it come to that. That’s big, considering the fact Hoover has knocked off Hewitt at the Met in the second round of the playoffs each of the last two years.
“I don’t want to come back over here this year,” Josh Floyd said.
