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The best of the best in Alabama High
School Football over the past 100 seasons.
Amazing Seasons
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The Patriots defied the odds in 1974 to become the first over-the mountain football team to win the state championship. After a stellar college career, Alvin Bresler became an assistant coach at Anniston. In 1972, he was hired at Homewood. It was his third team that rolled to a 13-1 record on the way to the state championship. The team had its share of stars. Legg signed with Alabama. Wade Kirkpatrick signed with LSU. Rick Powers signed with Tennessee, and Mark Robbins signed with Auburn. But all 42 players got in every game, Bresler said. "We kept 42 on the varsity and every one of them contributed somewhere every game.'' game-game recap from the 1975 Homewood yearbook | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| And did it rain! The first game of the season found the Homewood Patriots pitted against the Jess Lanier Tigers. Despite the opposing force of the Lanier Tigers and the rain, Homewood carne out with the first of their victories. The first touchdown was made by Joe Wurtele after receiving a pass from quarterback Murray Legg. Although David Zarsaur's extra point was blocked the Patriots held the lead 6-0. The second half got off to an exciting start when the Patriots pounced on a Tiger fumble on the kick-off. Later a Legg to Riffe pass gave the Patriots six points. Another Legg pass to Hank Marshman raised the score to a 14-0 Patriot lead. A third touchdown carne in the third quarter, after making use of a Tiger fumble. Because of a bad snap the extra point attempt failed. The Patriots took two more points early in the fourth quarter as Salter blocked a Tiger punt into the end zone for a safety. The score remained 22-0 marking a fine victory for the Homewood Patriots. - Ginny Sorsby and Lauri Mann | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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September 6th marked the date of Homewood's first home game of the year and the first game to be played in the Robert G. Waldrop Stadium against a tough Jeff Davis Volunteers squad. The first half was a defensive struggle until Tommy Wingo recovered a Davis fumble at the Patriot 44. The Pats tallied soon after as Jimmy Edwards outran the defense 27 yards to paydirt. Calloway booted his first of three extra points and Homewood carried a 7-0 half-time lead into the locker room. In the third quarter Homewood pulled further away as Murray Legg hit Joe Wurtele for the score and Edwards made another brilliant run of 55 yards and the third quarter closed with the Patriots holding a commanding 21-0 lead. The offense couldn't really get on track in the fourth quarter but the defense held the Vols at bay. With the except on of a meaningless Vol touchdown in the closing minutes it was a perfect 21-6 game for the Patriots. - Bill Harris | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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To anyone believing in witches and black cats, Friday the thirteenth seemed an ominous day for playing a football game. Yet games are seldom canceled because of superstition, so on a bleak September night the Homewood Patriots faced the unbeaten Hueytown Gophers at Waldrop Stadium. Perhaps Hueytown possessed its own special form of black magic in winning a game which the Patriots rightly deserved. For despite all the statistics which ordinarily favor the victors, the Gophers mystically led only in the most important statistic: the score. Somehow, despite the Patriots 54-yard advantage in rushing and five more first downs the jinx of Friday the thirteenth befell the Patriots. Even the talented running of Jimmie Lee Edwards coupled with the determined efforts of Murray Legg could not put out what seemed to be a fateful outcome: Hueytown Gophers - 30, Homewood Patriots - 23. Yet fortune was soon to smile on the Patriots, a smile which would prove more magical than anything Friday the thirteenth could offer. Homewood would come back a winner. - Ginny Dominick | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Homewood, under the direction of QB Fleisher, soundly shut-out the Mounties of Shades Valley to gain the title of "King of the Valley." Fleisher completed eight of ten passes for 129 yards and one touchdown. Legg filled in as running back and went in for two scores of his own. The Patriots marched with their first possession down the field from their own 32-yard line. A two-yard run by Legg brought in the first Patriot score and Calloway's kick made it 7-0. The second quarter was opened with a 55-yard drive by the Patriots. Robbins went in for the TD with a Fleisher pass. Legg then proved that he could throw by hitting Malcolm for the two-point conversion. The third touchdown came later in the second quarter on another Legg run, Calloway was true again, and Homewood jumped ahead 22-0. Second half scoring was highlighted by a 55-yard Fleisher to Robbins pass, which coupled with Calloway's point after to give the Patriots a 29-0 cushion. The final Pat TD came with a 42-yard screen pass from Legg to Kirkpatrick. Legg completed the scoring with a two-point conversion toss to Marshman. Final score: Homewood 37, Valley O. - Barbara Harris | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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There were some anxious moments, but when time ran out, Walker Country was defeated. Homewood's playoff hopes were strengthened, and a happy homecoming was assured. The Patriots began the game by taking the opening kickoff and driving 61 yards in only four plays. Edwards scored the touchdown on a fifteen-yard run behind excellent blocking. Calloway added the extra point and Homewood had a quick 7-point lead. The Vikings indicated what type of game it was going to be by taking the kick and advancing 74 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was not good, but Homewood's lead had been cut to a single point. It took 13, seconds for Edwards to score his second TD of the game, as he took the Viking's kickoff and raced 92 yards to paydirt. Legg passed to Marshman for a 2-point conversion, and the gap widened. Once again Walker County came back with 8 second quarter drive fro a touchdown. Again the extra point failed and the half ended with Homewood on top by a score of 15-12. Neither team could score in the 3rd quarter. But early in the fourth the Vikings went ahead for the first time, although once again the extra point was unsuccessful. Walker now led 18-15. Homewood's Robbins diving catch of a Legg pass capped a 60-yard drive and the last TD of the game came with 1:11 left in the game. However, the threat was not over until Robbins intercepted a Walker pass, with only seconds remaining; then Homewood's 22-18 Homecoming victory was signed, sealed and delivered. - Jimmy Aycock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A very confident Homewood team entered the Minor game with a fine 4-1 record. The underrated Tigers were more fearsome than expected though, and it took a fourth quarter miracle by Homewood to pull it out. The night started off well for the Patriots as they took. the opening kickoff and drove down the field 77 yards. The drive ended with a 6-yard TO pass to Wurtele. Callaway's extra point made the score 7-0. On our next possession Homewood once again moved down the field only to he held by a strong goal line defense. Suddenly the Tigers had the momentum and took. advantage of it to score two touchdown and take a 14-7 halftime lead. The second half was one of the most exciting and important of the entire season for it illustrated the class and determination of a great Homewood team. The Patriots came roaring out the second half and scored on an 84-yard drive directed by QB Legg, running backs Riffe and Edwards with Legg scoring the TD. Calloway's PAT made the score 14-14. On receiving the ball a determined Minor team rammed down the field; however. the Patriots defense stood, forcing the Tigers to settle for 3 points. Donnie Robbins returned the next Homewood punt for a Minor TO. (Robbins was outstanding all night and the football team was hurt to learn of his death at the end of Minor's season. Down by 10 points and with 5 minutes to go, we were in troub1e! But the Patriots had a miracle up their sleeve. Following a punt the Pats drove 55 yards for a TD. Outstanding blocking was done by Weaver. Akins, Smith, Brown, and Runyans with Riffe scoring the TD and Calloway adding the extra point. Then a successful onside kick attempt put the ball on the Tiger's 47. Legg's pass to Wurtcle for 25 yards set up Larry Riffe's game winning TD. It was sweet victory: 29-24. - Russell Akins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Finding the Vestavia Rebels ever so troublesome, the Patriots had to use a fourth quarter comeback to insure their fifth win of the season against one defeat Homewood opened up the scoring first when quarterback Murray Legg threw a touchdown pass to Mark Robbins with 3:36 left in the half. Vestavia scored just as the half ended making it 7-7. The Patriot defense, led by linebackers Tommy Wingo and Rick Powers, safety man Mark Robbins and end Taylor Wingo pressured the Rebel quarterback into three costly interceptions. The turning point of the game was when David Fleisher intercepted a pass late in the fourth quarter to stop a threatening Rebel drive. The Patriot offense finally got moving with the great blocking of the entire offensive line and the running of Bobby Foreman, Jimmie Lee Edwards, and tight end Wade Kirkpatrick, who moved the ball the length of the field to the nine-yard line. At this point Murray Legg scored the deciding touchdown to complete the drive. The victory helped keep the playoff hopes alive and the team spirit strong. - Murray Legg and Davis Fleisher | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Patriots traveled to Carroll Field on October 25th. Homewood was the first team to score, but only after the ban had exchanged hands several-times, The scoring drive was completed-with a 59 year pass from Legg to Kirkpatrick. After a successful extra point attempt, Homewood led 7-0. John Carroll refused to give up, and started rolling. With a razzle-dazzle pass and extra point, the score was an tied up. The rest of the scoring belonged to Homewood. Four plays after a Mark Robbins interception, Legg went in from the one. The next score developed from a 15 yard pass to Robbins. The Patriots scored once more, making the final score Homewood 27, Carroll 7. - Barbara Harris | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Berry's booty was pirated by a pillaging Patriot pack who passed the Bucs their first shutout ever at Berry field. The final score ended up 14-0, but the game was totally dominated by Homewood. The tenacious Patriot defense was led by such standouts as Mike Wald, Taylor and Tommy Wingo, David Fleisher and Randy Smith, The defense only allowed the Bucs inside the Homewood 20 once, and this was with less than a minute to go in the game. The only scoring needed in the contest came in the second quarter when Legg floated a pass to Kirkpatrick who made a diving catch in the end zone for the score. This play highlighted a time consuming 14-play drive covering 85 yards. Calloway's extra point made it 7-0. The other Patriot score came in the same quarter after Tommy Wingo recovered a Berry fumble at the Homewood 35. Legg engineered another brilliant sustained drive which ended up with Legg taking the ban over the goal line from II yards out. The workhorses of the drive were halfbacks Larry Riffe and Bobby Foreman. Calloway's second extra point made it 14-0 at the half. In the second half, turnovers kept the Patriots from penetrating the goal line, Berry never found consistency against Homewood's fired up defense. A last ditch Berry effort was snuffed out with a blocked punt by David Vaughn. This gave the Homewood offense the field position to run out the clock. - Tim Calloway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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With a state playoff berth in jeopardy, a powerful Homewood Patriot team came into Mountain Brook Stadium to take on the Mountain Brook Spartans. This homecoming for the Spartans proved to be a disappointing one which Homewood won 48-6, with Homewood in the first half scoring every time they touched the ball. Jimmie Edwards started Homewood off with a 38-yard touchdown run topping off a 76-yard drive in 10 plays. Tim Calloway booted the extra point to make the score 7-0. With 2:57 left in the first quarter Murray Legg scored the second Homewood 1D of the night on a l-yard quarterback sneak. Tim Calloway's successful extra point attempt made the score 14-0. Calloway then boosted the score to 20-0 with two field goals of 28 and 32 yards. The next touchdown came when Ricky Powers picked up a Spartan fumble and returned it 32 yards. Once again Calloway 's kicking proved accurate and made the score 27-0. For the final score in the half Tommy Wingo blocked a Spartan punt to set up a Legg-Kirkpatrick touchdown pass, leaving Homewood with a 34-0 half-time lead. In the third quarter the Legg-Kirkpatrick combo stung the Spartans once again with a 60-yard scoring sprint. Another Calloway boot made the score 41-0. In the fourth quarter Mountain Brook moved on a halfback pass from Luke Cobb to Alan Hunter to complete the Spartans' only touchdown drive. The extra point attempt was missed, causing the Spartans to give up the ball with a 41-6 deficit. Homewood completed the route when Legg connected with Mark Robbins for a 22-yard touchdown pass. Calloway added the extra point making the final score 48-6. Homewood had finished its regular season with an admirable 9-1 record. - Kevin Scoble | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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After winning along hard fight in court where Homewood was declared Region 7 Champions, the Patriots had another contest in which to compete. This battle was against Hueytown who had defeated Homewood in the rain on Patriot home-ground. Once again the game took place in the rain but this time Hueytown had home field advantage. For Homewood there was more at stake than the first round of the playoffs: Hueytown had issued Homewood its only loss of the season and the Patriots had something to prove; a win here was essential to make the court fight worthwhile. Finally and most important, a victory would move the Patriots one step closer to the state championship. Homewood scored on its first possession with Legg capping a 77-yard drive with a one-yard plunge. Calloway's points made the score 7-0. Hueytown came back with a scoring drive late in the second quarter to make a 7-7 half-time deadlock. Homewood's second half kick-off was fumbled by Hueytown and Marshman recovered it on the 35-yard line in Hueytown territory. From there, a Legg to Wurtele pass, and a run by Legg added 6 points to the Patriot score. Calloway's sure foot boosted the score to 14-7. The Hueytown squad was not to be discouraged, however, and the Gophers tied the score at 14 all with a tight end reverse. Late in the 4th quarter Legg ran around the end to put the winning points on the scoreboard. The Patriot defense held off the Gopher attack to make the final score in the first round of the State Playoffs: Homewood 21, Hueytown 14. - Bill Brown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Homewood was ready and fired up for the next game; their future victims were to be the Banks Jets. They had waited a year for this one. Banks received the kick and fumbled on their first three possessions. The first touchdown came after the Jets' third fumble. With Homewood in possession of the ball, Zarzaur carried 3 yards to the one-yard line, then went in to score. Calloway's kick was wide leaving 1:46 in the first quarter. On their first possession of the second quarter Homewood drove from their own 28-yard line to the 12, where Calloway kicked a 29-yard field goal, bringing the score to 9-0 and ending the first half scoring. The second half consisted mostly of a defensive battle between the two teams. However, on the last play of the third quarter, Calloway kicked a 29-yard field goal putting the Patriots soundly ahead of the Jets, who by this time were low on fuel. After the Patriots' victory over Banks they were well on their way to the finals, to making a name for themselves, and to calling Legion Field "home". For the record, the Homewood Patriots were the first team since 1971, when Hueytown did it, to completely shut out Banks. Homewood's players, tough with spirit and the want of revenge proved that they were one of the best teams in the state when Banks was GLORIOUSLY, TERRIFICALLY, AND BLISSFULLY WHOOPED! - Amy Hitchcock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The high-spirited Patriots entered Legion Field on Thanksgiving night facing the well-rounded and exceptionally quick Anniston Bulldogs. An air of confidence was definitely present and with the combined effort and unity of the team we put it together again. The explosive Bulldogs thoroughly tested the Patriots' defense. Richard Andrews, David Fleisher, Tommy and Taylor Wingo, Robert VandeLune, and Mark Robbins had outstanding games in limiting Anniston's offensive attack. The defensive squad illustrated its ability by holding the highly-rated Ronald Young to 3 yards rushing and his twin brother, tight end Donald Young, to one catch for three yards. The Patriot offense moved the ball down the field on its first possession, driving from its own 22 to score in eight plays with Jimmie Edwards blasting through for six points. Murray Legg passed to Hank Marshman for two points, making the score 8-0. The Bulldogs held the Pats for the rest of the half and the two teams retired to the locker rooms with Homewood on top by eight. In the second half Tim Calloway added three points to Homewood's lead by kicking a 29-yard field goal. Homewood scored its final points with just 34 seconds in the third period as Legg hit Robbins with a 63-yard bomb. Calloway added the dressing to make the score 18-0. While Anniston posed a serious threat late in the game at the Patriot 12-yard line, the drive was stopped with a fourth down interception by Mark Robbins, Jimmie Edwards with 100 yards rushing and Murray Legg completing six of thirteen passes for 118 yards led the offense to the final score: Homewood - 18, Anniston - O. Homewood had bulldog rather than turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. - Robert VandeLune | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In only the third season of football for the school, Homewood laid claim to their first state championship with a hard fought 10-7 victory over Dothan. The Tigers would score first on a Greg Ramsey 70 yard run for a touchdown. Tim Calloway would come back to kick a second quarter field goal to cut the halftime margin to 7-3 in favor of Dothan. In the third quarter Homewood quarterback Murray Legg, who completed 7 of 15 passes for 72 yards, would pitch out to running back Lee Edwards for a 21 yard touchdown and the final 10-7 margin of victory. The Tigers would mount a late effort that would result in a missed field goal from 44 yards that would have tied the game. Dothan was also making their first playoff appearance and the Tigers played without several key players as a flu epidemic struck the team in the days prior to the game.
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Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History
Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden was a star quarterback at Woodlawn high school in Birmingham.
Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden was a star quarterback at Woodlawn high school in Birmingham.
