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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley quarterback Zach Pyron (11) signals a play towards the sideline during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley wide receiver Taborie Reed (18) stretches the ball out to gain extra yardadge during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley quarterback Zach Pyron (11) signals the first down during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley offensive lineman Cameron Ambrose (58) opens a lane for his runningback during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley head coach Sam Shade during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley running back Mike Sharpe (4) fights for extra yardage runing the ball down the middle during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley running back/linebacker Taurus Chambers (44) with a sweeping first down run during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley defensive back/running back Zach McCray (7) rides the Oxford receiver tackling him during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley linebacker Zi Keith Springfield (35) signals the Oxford fumble and Pinson recovery during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley defensive/offensive lineman Cameron Griffin (72) blocks for his QB during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
Young Pinson Valley fans during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
An Oxford Coach ends up having to be escorted off the playing field after not agreeing with the ref’s measurement call during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
The Oxford Defense signals the fumble recovery during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley running back Mike Sharpe (4) fumbles the ball in the red zone during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley players during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley players during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley students try to stay warm during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley majorettes during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley running back Mike Sharpe (4) on the sideline during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley wide receiver Taborie Reed (18) on the sideline during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley quarterback Zach Pyron (11) duscusses plays with a coach during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley colorguard members during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley band members during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley band members during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley players during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
Young Pinson Valley fans during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley majorettes during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
An Oxford Coach ends up having to be escorted off the playing field after not agreeing with the ref’s measurement call during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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Photo by James Nicholas
Pinson Valley Football
Pinson Valley wide receiver Amare Thomas (13) rests on the sideline after a long kick off return touchdown during the second round playoff game between Oxford and Pinson Valley on Friday, November. 12th, 2021, at Pinson Valley High School - Willie Adams Stadium - Pinson AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
PINSON — The championship defense tour continues.
In a rematch of last year’s Class 6A quarterfinal bout, No. 9 Pinson Valley marched past Oxford on Friday night in Willie Adams Stadium. The series renewal came in the second round of the state playoffs and sets up the Indians (9-3) with a quarterfinal test opposite No. 3 Mountain Brook next Friday.
Junior wideout Amare Thomas returned the opening kickoff about 80 yards to the house, quarterback Zach Pyron ran in a pair of touchdowns and Pinson Valley kept its title defense alive with a 20-0 home win — the team’s third shutout victory of the year.
For PVHS, this season marks its fifth straight run to the third round. Three of those years ended with state titles.
“It feels good,” said Pinson Valley head coach Sam Shade of the playoff victory. “Oxford is two years removed from a state championship, so that’s a great program, they’ve got a lot of class and they played hard.”
Thomas’ early return would provide the only points of the first half, as the Indians went to the break with a 6-0 advantage.
The home team had a few promising moments early on, only to see three touchdowns called back due to penalties — each coming on the same drive early in the second frame. That drive ultimately ended with a missed 39-yard field goal.
“It’s frustrating, but we’ve just got to do a better job on the edges when we’re blocking of not holding guys,” said Shade of the penalties. “We’ve got work to do in that area.”
Despite the setbacks, Pinson answered on the defensive end, holding Oxford to its second scoreless effort of the year. The other came in a 55-0 loss at defending Class 7A state champion Thompson in the season opener. Shade’s defense limited the visitors to 130 yards of offense as the Tribe posted six three-and-out stops to go with four turnovers.
“As a group, they just put it together,” said Shade of his defense. “They had a great plan and they executed.”
After a sloppy first half, the Pinson Valley offense answered on its opening drive of the third, marching 54 yards on four plays to claim a 13-0 advantage. Pyron, a Georgia Tech commit, punctuated the series with a 7-yard keeper off left tackle.
The senior ran with it 13 times for 86 yards and two scores in the win. He also completed five passes for 50 yards.
Pyron’s second TD run followed a a BJ Diakite strip-sack in the fourth quarter. The drive started in plus territory and ended with Pyron’s 18-yard gallop, which opened up nicely down the left side following a nice ball fake on the option keeper. That strike ended the scoring at 20-0 with 8:41 remaining.
Pinson stayed committed to the ground game throughout, carrying it on all but one of its 26 second-half plays. Senior running back Mike Sharpe led the attack with 139 yards on 18 calls. Sophomore Taurus Chambers helped out with 81 yards rushing on 11 carries.
Defensively, Tamarkus Judkins and Zach McCray both pulled down interceptions to go with a forced fumble from Diakite. The Indians will need more of that next Friday in the quarterfinals.
