Tweet      Share on Facebook                

The 1976 Berry Buccaneers had finished the season with an unimpressive 5-4-1 record. Few knew what lay in store for the Bucs in 1977. Head coach Bon Finley had the groundwork for one of the best teams in his long and distinguished career at Berry.           The Bucs scored 287 points during the season and allowed just 81. A tough schedule was parlayed into a 13-1 record and the first state championship for the school in December. Game summaries taken from the 1978 Berry yearbook   Berry 0   0   0   6   6     Hueytown 0   3   0   0   3             The Bucs appear to be off to a great start as they upset the Hueytown Gophers 6-3 on September 2. At the half, Hueytown is winning 3-0, but Berry's Stewart Thrasher come back with 2:19 left in the game to score for the Bucs. Berry wins 6-3.   Jess Lanier 0   3   0   21   24     Berry 0   0   7   0   7             However, the team relaxes their hold too early against Jess Lanier on September 9. The Purple Tigers are leading 3-0 at the half, but Berry takes the lead after halftime when Jay Haley passes to Stewart Thrasher. Ken Roebuck adds another point.           But, despite the valiant attempts of the defense, led by Mark Rich, Jess Lanier comes back in the fourth quarter to make three touchdowns and beat Berry 24-7. A disappointing night, but this is the only the beginning.   Huffman             7     Berry             19             Berry plays Huffman on a Saturday night because of the rainy weather. The Vikings manage to score one touchdown, but Brian Blankenship comes right back with a seventy-two yard run. Jimmy Dozier is quarterbacking for an ailing Jay Haley, and does an excellent job scoring two touchdowns. The final score of the game is 19-7, with the Bucs winning again.   Mountain Brook 0   14   0   0   14     Berry 6   6   8   6   26             Jay Haley's pass to Brian Blankenship opens the Mountain Brook game with a 6-0 Buc lead. A fumble recovered by Jimmy Boren sets up Jay Haley's next touchdown. But Mountain Brook comes back with two touchdowns to give the Spartans a 14-12 halftime lead.           Berry rallies with a touchdown and a two point conversion. The lead is intensified later when Stacey Berthon blocks a punt, leading to Brian Blankenship's touchdown, and the game ends 26-14.   Berry 7   0         21     Vestavia Hills 0   0   0   0   0              As the big rival game is about to begin, darkness hits Vestavia Hills stadium, due to a power failure. When the lights return, the Bucs are also electrified, as an immediate touchdown by Blankenship follows the hour long darkness. Dante Graham kicks the extra point and the Bucs lead 7-0 at the half.           During the second half, Jay Haley leads Berry to two more touchdowns by Blankenship and Paul Constantine. PATs by Dante Graham and Ken Roebuck are successful, and Berry wins the traditional rivalry 21-0.   Berry             28     Banks 0   0   0   0   0             At Lawson Field on October 7, Berry takes advantage of many Jet mistakes and scores three touchdowns during the first half and once during the second. Touchdowns made by Jay Haley, Raymond Holcomb and Bart Krout and PATs by Ken Roebuck bring the Bucs to a 28-0 shutout over Banks.   Berry 0   7   7   0   14     Shades Valley 0   0   0   7   7             The Buccaneers ruin Shades Valley's homecoming and their chances at #1 on the cool, crisp night of October 14. Berry's Jay Haley makes it an exciting game by scoring early in the second quarter. A successful PAT by Ken Roebuck ends the half 7-0.           The Bucs come back strong in the second half as Brian Blankenship scores again for Berry. Mark Rich leads the defense against the Mounties, but they break through and score. Shades Valley makes one last attempt at victory, but an interception by Jimmy Boren keeps the game for Berry, 14-7   Erwin 0   0   0   8   8     Berry 3   14         31             The game against the Erwin Eagles at Berry proves to be a good game for the Bucs. An early 3-0 lead is established by Ken Roebuck but Jay Haley is shaken up. Stan Riddle takes over well for Jay with a touchdown, and Haley returns to the game with the score 10-0. Haley passes to Bart Krout for another touchdown and the half ends with Berry ahead 17-0.            Second half play proves to be just as exciting as Randall Jones makes an interception which helps Haley to score again. The fourth touchdown is made by Barry Hodges to give the Bucs a 31-0 lead. Erwin scores late in the game, but Berry wins 31-8.   Berry             35     Homewood 7   0   0   0   7             An easy win against the Patriots at Homewood stadium gives the Berry Bucs the opportunity to participate in the playoffs. The Patriots score an early touchdown, but Berry comes back as Jay Haley scores and Ken Roebuck kicks the first of his five successful PATs.            Haley throws two more touchdown passes -- 9 yards to Bobby Powers and 33 yards to Milton White. Brian Blankenship scores next, and reserve quarterback Mark Hendrick polishes off the game with his 40-yard run making the final score 35-7.   Minor 0   0   0   0   0     Berry             21             A slippery field on Homecoming night doesn't stop Berry's team against Minor. The defense, led by Vincent Russo and Mark Rich, plays an excellent game against the Tigers. Jay Haley and Brian Blankenship are responsible for the three touchdowns and Ken Roebuck makes three successful PATs. Homecoming night ends 21-0, as an excited team looks forward to the playoffs.   Berry 0   7   0   13   20     Jeff Davis 0   0   0   0   0             The Bucs travel to Montgomery to play the Jeff Davis Volunteers for the first round of the State 4A playoffs on November 11. The first quarter ends scoreless, but in the second quarter, Berry's Stacey Berthon intercepts a Vol pass and Brian Blankenship scores eleven plays later. Ken Roebuck booted the PAT for a 7-0 lead over the Vols.           While the third period is scoreless, in the fourth quarter Jimmy Boren recovers a fumble and Jay Haley scores on a run. Sure footed Ken Roebuck kicks another PAT and Berry Leads 14-0. With barely over two minutes remaining, Brian Blankenship has an 82-yard gallop for another score. The jubilant Bucs leave Montgomery with a 20-0 victory.   West End 0   0   0   8   8     Berry 0   7   0   21   28             Berry's second round of the State 4A playoffs is at Legion Field against West End for the Quarter finals. The Bucs can't accomplish much in the first quarter, but Dante Graham's long punts keep the Lions backed up and busy. In the second quarter, Haley scores and Ken Roebuck kicks the PAT as the half ends with Berry on top 7-0.           Late in the game, Berry's Brian Blankenship scores for the Bucs. A Jimmy Boren interception, a Raymond Holcombe touchdown, and a Ken Roebuck kick boost the score to 21-0. But with 2:16 left in the game, West End comes back to score and makes a two-point conversion. The Bucs react by making another touchdown and the game ends for the Bucs 28-8.   Berry 0   0   3   7   10     Sidney Lanier 3   0   0   0   3             For the semifinals of the State 4A football playoffs, the Berry Bucs travel once again to Montgomery to play the Sidney Lanier Poets in the Campton Bowl. The Poets Score first with a field goal in the first quarter. Halftime score remains 3-0. In the third quarter, dependable Dante Graham kicks a 43-yards field goal bringing the score 3-3.            Less than two minutes remain when Brian Blankenship scores for the Bucs after a 47-yard drive. Roebuck's PAT is successful and the Bucs win again 10-3.   Berry 0   14   7   0   21     Walker 0   0   0   0   0             We're #1 cry the Bucs!           The Berry Bucs make it to the top on Saturday afternoon December 3 -- a day to remember. At the State 4A championship playoffs there is no scoring in the first quarter, but in the second Jay Haley connects with Bart Krout for a 25-yard touchdown pass. Ken Roebuck kicks his first of three successful PATs to make the score 7-0.           Bart scores again before the half, a beautiful interception and a forty yard run for a touchdown, making the halftime score Berry 14, Walker 0. In the third period, the Bucs have their final drive of 77 yards for a touchdown. Brian Blankensip and Raymond Holcombe prove invaluable in this drive. Holcombe gallops 14 yards for the score. Roebuck's PAT is successful and the Berry Buccaneers leave Legion Field as State Champions. The final score is Berry 21, Walker 0!           End Bart Krout was named to the first team all-state squad in 1977 by every source. He also won numerous other awards and was regarded by many as the best football player in the state that season.           Quarterback Jay Haley, Dante Graham junior running back Brian Blankenship and Brian Harris were also selected to the all-state team in 1977. Head coach Bob Finley was chosen as the coach of the year by the Birmingham Post-Herald. Berry 1977 9/2 6 Hueytown . . . . . . . . . . 3 9/9 7 Jess Lanier . . . . . . . 24 9/17 19 Huffman . . . . . . . . . . . 7 9/23 26 Mountain Brook . . . . . 14 9/30 21 Vestavia Hills . . . . . 0 10/7 28 Banks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 10/14 14 Shades Valley . . . . . 7 10/21 31 Erwin . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 10/28 35 Homewood . . . . . . . . . . 7 11/4 21 Minor . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 11/11 20 Jeff Davis * . . . . . . 0 11/18 28 West End Birmingham * . 8 11/25 10 Sidney Lanier * . . . . 3 12/3 21 Walker # . . . . . . . . . . 0 287 13-1 81 * Playoff game # State championship game

Amazing Seasons, a series on the greatest seasons in high school football history


  Email comments to:  dparker@ahsfhs.org