Following a convincing 31-16 win over Jackson-Olin last Friday night, the Briarwood Christian Lions turn their attention to No. 1-ranked Homewood.

Homewood, a perfect 8-0 on the season, will travel to No. 5 Briarwood Friday night. On the line is the No. 1 spot in Region 4 of Class 5A.

Briarwood head coach Fred Yancy said the contest will be a tough test for his team.

&uot;It’s obvious they (Homewood) are the best team in the state regardless of classification,&uot; Yancy said. &uot;It’s our job to upset them, but they are clearly a great team. In high school football you just never know. When you look at it on paper, they’re playing better than everyone else. But it’s a one game deal, not a tournament. So all we have to do is win once.&uot;

Homewood is coming off a 28-0 win over No. 7 McAdory last Friday night. Briarwood defeated then-unbeaten McAdory 22-19 two weeks ago.

Briarwood’s Tim Castille had another big game for Yancy and the Lions, recording his 100th career touchdown at the end of the third quarter. The score was his second of the night.

Tim Castille finished the night with 97 yards rushing on 18 attempts with two touchdowns. The senior also caught one pass for 14 yards and returned a punt for 29 yards, giving the future Alabama Crimson Tider 140 all-purpose yards.

Quarterback Joe Craddock completed 6-of-13 passes for 62 yards with one interception and also rushed for 85 yards on 13 carries and scored 2 touchdowns.

On the night, the Lions were outgained on offense, with Jackson-Olin gaining 267 yards to the Lions’ 238. Jackson-Olin fumbled the ball away 2 times and threw 2 interceptions.

Briarwood got on the board first when Craddock capped a 16-play, 58-yard drive with a 1-yard scoring run. The PAT failed, and the Lions had a 6-0 lead with 3:20 left in the opening quarter.

Jackson-Olin took the lead with 11:51 left in the second period when Campbell hit Hendrix with a 46-yard scoring pass.

Hampton added the extra point for the lead.

Briarwood quickly answered when Craddock scored from 1 yard out, capping a 42-yard, 8-play drive with 8:01 left in the half. Craddock hit Westby Anderson with the 2-point conversion pass to give the Lions a 14-7 lead at the half.

Briarwood poured it on in the third quarter, starting with a Ben Bludsworth 30-yard field goal at the 7:13 mark in the period.

Tim Castille gave the Lions a bigger lead when he capped a 6-play, 27 yard drive following a JO turnover with a 3-yard run. Bludsworth’s PAT gave the Lions a 24-7 lead.

Tim Castille got his 100th touchdown when he scampered 22 yards as the clock ran out in the third period. Bludsworth’s PAT gave the Lions a commanding 31-7 lead heading into the final period of play.

The only scoring in the fourth quarter came with 5:00 left when Campbell hit Hendrix again, this time from 11 yards out.

Hampton’s PAT rounded out the scoring with Briarwood winning 31-16