By JOSH ETHRIDGE/For the Reporter

HOOVER — The Spain Park High School Jaguars started the season off with a win, as they snuck past the Austin High School Black bears on Friday, Aug 22. They won with the final score of 5-3.

Spain Park received the ball to start the game and promptly fumbled it on the first play from scrimmage.  Running back Wade Streeter was able to recover his own fumble, but the Jaguars failed to pick up a first down and had to punt.

The Black Bears started their first drive deep in their own territory. Three straight positive runs by running back Kylan Torain gave Austin its first, first down of the game. On the next play, the ball was snapped over quarterback Brandon Schreiber’s head and was recovered by the Jaguars, with eight minutes left in the first quarter.

Following the turnover by Austin, Spain Park set up deep in its own territory. However, they failed to take advantage of the Black Bear mistake as quarterback Mason Duke threw an interception, on the first play of the drive.

Following suit, Austin failed to capitalize off the Spain Park turnover. On the second play of the drive the ball was snapped over the quarterbacks head and out of the back of the end zone, resulting in a safety. Spain Park took a 2-0 lead over Austin.

Austin’s first points came on a field goal set up by an 18-yard run by running back Timius Lowe. The score heading into the half was 3-2, advantage Black Bears.

With two minutes left in the third quarter the Black Bears lined up to receive a punt, but the returner dropped the ball, and the Jaguars pounced on it. After three straight running plays Spain Park lined up for a successful field goal attempt, taking the lead 5-3 with 11:56 left in the game.

After taking the lead, the Jaguars were able to eat the clock for much of the fourth quarter, locking up the 5-3 victory.

After the game, Spain Park Head Coach Shawn Raney admitted that he expected some first game sloppiness.

“Every error we could make, we made it, but we now know what we need to work on,” Raney said. “I told the kids we are 1-0 and that’s where we needed to be after tonight.”

Spain Park will travel to Hueytown Friday, Aug. 29.