Indians looking for 3rd title in 4 years

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For the third time in four years, the Pinson Valley High School football team is embarking on a quest to bring home the Class 6A state championship.

After winning the blue map in 2017 and 2018, the Indians are back again. On Friday night at 7:30 p.m., Pinson Valley takes on Spanish Fort at Bryant-Denny Stadium to cap off the Super 7 Championships.

Pinson Valley is on an incredible run of success, going for its 50th win over the last four seasons. Before the 2017 team went 15-0, ran the table and won the state crown, the Indians had never won double digit games and had never even advanced to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs.

After three highly successful seasons, Patrick Nix left to become the head coach at Central-Phenix City. Sam Shade was hired and has kept things rolling, bringing the Indians into the championship game sporting an 11-2 record.

Pinson Valley suffered a 44-19 loss to a strong Hewitt-Trussville team to begin the season, before four straight victories. The Indians then lost to 5A semifinalist Ramsay 14-13, a loss that Shade said resulted in Pinson’s torrid pace the rest of the year. 

After the loss, Pinson capped the year with impressive region wins over Clay-Chalkville and Jasper. In the playoffs, the Indians turned it up another notch, posting dominant victories over Arab, Shades Valley, Oxford (last year’s champion) and, last week, Mountain Brook in the semifinals.

Over those four playoff games, Pinson has outscored its opponents 154-28. 

Pinson Valley’s meeting with Spanish Fort on Friday will be the first time the two schools have squared off. Spanish Fort comes in with an 11-3 record, with playoff wins over McAdory, Helena, Blount and Saraland. Spanish Fort was in the championship game last fall, losing to Oxford.

The Toros have won four state titles, in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015. They have made the playoffs every year since 2008.