Sand Mountain Reporter

The Boaz varsity football team wrapped up its spring drills Friday night with a 17-6 triumph over Plainview in a spring jamboree at Rainsville.

Boaz grabbed a 7-0 lead on Drew Phillips’ 1-yard touchdown run with 8:01 left in the opening period of the varsity half.

Phillips, who will be a junior this fall, led Boaz with 1,258 yards rushing on 212 carries in 2007.

Later in the period, quarterback Daniel Gaither tossed a 31-yard touchdown pass to Joel Dixon, giving Boaz a 14-0 lead.

The Pirates’ Robby Spruiell nailed a 34-yard field goal with 3:52 remaining in the second quarter.

Spruiell missed a 48-yard field goal on another of Boaz’s possessions.

Plainview avoided the shutout by scoring on its final possession.

Phillips rushed for more than 100 yards. Gaither completed two of three passes while Matt Thomas went two of two through the air.

Dixon had two receptions for 55 yards. Eran Franks and Spencer Nicholson each caught one pass.

“We played so many people. We got better,” said Boaz head coach Drew Noles.

“Chase Williams made a lot of tackles and did a good job for us at linebacker.

“We played 11 different defensive backs, and we felt like our secondary did a pretty good job.

“Our receivers did OK. We played eight receivers.

“We had some questions that were answered, and we still have some that weren’t.

“We have a good idea of what we need to work on this summer and in the preseason.”

Noles and his staff worked with 59 varsity players and 28 freshmen this spring. The Pirates’ senior class includes 25 players.

“It was a successful spring,” he said. “Our kids know what we wanted to try to accomplish. Beating Plainview in a jamboree wasn’t one of them, although it’s always good to win and good to play a jamboree because the kids get tired of beating on themselves.

“We do have a long ways to go to be competitive in our region.”

The Pirates will reclassify to 5A in the fall. They will compete in Region 7 with Albertville, Etowah, Southside, Fort Payne, Arab, Madison County and Scottsboro.

Boaz graduated seven starters on both sides of the ball, so Noles is concerned about the team’s lack of experience.

“We have guys who are being counted on for the first time,” he said.

“The kids had a tremendous work ethic this spring and a great attitude, which should pay dividends down the road.

“It’s a very coachable team, and that’s fun to be around.”

Junior varsity, freshman quarters

The Pirates won the freshman quarter 6-0 on Kyle Overstreet’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Thompson.

Plainview scored a touchdown on the final play to down Boaz 6-0 in the junior varsity quarter.

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Publisher: Ben Shurett

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