By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

NORTH SHELBY – The Briarwood Lions scored more points in the first quarter of their Oct. 16 matchup with Minor than they have in three games this season in total. Leading 14-0 after the opening quarter, the Lions could not sustain that offensive pace. Minor scored 26 unanswered points to end the game, and got out of Briarwood with a 26-14 win and a playoff berth all but wrapped up.

After a early first quarter fumble by Minor that was picked up by Bennett Miles and returned to the house, the Lions had an early 7-0 lead. After a Minor three-and-out, the Lions got to work once again early. On fourth down from its own 38, Briarwood faked a punt, and Luke Miskelley came down with a huge reception down inside the Minor 20 yard line. Later, on another fourth down from the Minor two yard line, Briarwood quarterback Will Gray faked a speed sweep handoff to Carson Eddy and found a wide open Carter Bankston to put the Lions up 14-0 after the first quarter.

“In the early part of the game, we did a lot of real nice things,” Briarwood head coach Fred Yancey said after the game. “It just got away from us.”

Got away from the Lions it did indeed. In a 14-0 hole, Minor finally got going. The Tigers scored their first touchdown early in the second quarter. A curious Briarwood punt on third and long set Minor up for its second score, however Jake Morris blocked his first of two extra points, allowing Briarwood to keep a slim 14-13 lead.

Gray tossed one of his five interceptions late in the second quarter, and Minor had the ball on its own seven yard line. From there, Drequan Pritchett found Jaylond Adams across the middle, which Adams turned into a backbreaking 94-yard scamper, giving Minor a 20-14 halftime lead.

Briarwood’s defense kept them alive in the second half. After Gray threw a pick six on the first series of the third quarter, making the game 26-14, the Lions defense did not relinquish any more points, holding Minor on three separate fourth downs. The Briarwood offense could not turn those opportunities into points however, and Briarwood fell 26-14.

Briarwood has scored just 92 points this year, but shockingly still has a shot at the playoffs. If the Lions beat John Carroll Catholic next week, and Jackson-Olin loses to Homewood, then Briarwood is in.