By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

TUSCALOOSA – Spain Park needed that win.

Sure, the Jaguars had beaten Hoover earlier in the year for the first time in school history. And yes, they finished the regular season undefeated in one of the toughest regions across the state. But still, the feeling was palpable leading up to Spain Park’s semifinal rematch with Hoover. It just felt like, for whatever reason, that the Bucs had the upper hand headed into that game.

That’s what over a decade of dominance will buy you.

But it turns out, that win back in November wasn’t a fluke. It turns out this Spain Park team is just really good. One of the best teams in the state, as a matter of fact, with a defense playing as well as any in recent memory. Now, Spain Park has a chance to cement itself as the best Jaguar team in the history of the school and one of the best teams across the state in 2015.

What’s crazy is the Jaguars have done all this without lighting the scoreboard on fire. Of all the teams still alive right now from Classes 1A-7A, Spain Park is averaging the fewest points per game of anyone at just over 22 a pop. Spain Park has never put 40 on anyone all season, and has scored 21 points or fewer six times this year.

However, that stat can be made to portray the offense as more inept than it is. The Jaguar offense isn’t going to blow anyone off the field, sure, but they also haven’t had to. The defense has routinely stifled opposing offenses all season, and has not allowed more than 10 points in a game since coming off the bye week back in late September. In the two games this season that Spain Park has given up more than 14 points, the offense has responded with two of it biggest scoring totals as well. The offense isn’t high-powered in part because it simply hasn’t had to be, but when necessary, Joey Beatty, Larry Wooden and Wade Streeter can do whatever they need to do to make sure this team stays in games.

McGill-Toolen didn’t find itself in this position by accident either, however. The Yellow Jackets ended the regular season as the No. 3 team in 7A, and the only blemish on their schedule is a three-point loss to Blount on Sept. 25. Paris Chambers, the senior dual-threat quarterback who has led McGill-Toolen all season, will give the Jaguar defense all it wants. Chambers isn’t the quickest quarterback in the world, but he is elusive and has a more than capable arm that will keep Perry Young and the Spain Park defense on their toes.

These two teams have a fair amount in common. Neither has ever won a state championship before. The deepest run either team has made in the playoffs before this year came in 2007, when Prattville beat both McGill-Toolen and Spain Park en route to a state title. Both teams went undefeated in region play this season, and the only blemish on either team’s record is a three-point loss to a talented 6A team. Neither team blows opponents off the field with their offense, and are both averaging less than 30 points per game. Both do however have very talented defensive units, and are only giving up 10 points or fewer per game.

Whatever happens, this game will be close. There are only four rounds of playoff competition in 7A since there are currently fewer teams in 7A than any other classification. This means both Spain Park and McGill-Toolen have two weeks to prepare for each other, and will be more familiar with each other than any other Super 7 matchup, despite having never met on the field before.

Dec. 2 in Tuscaloosa gives Spain Park head coach Shawn Raney and his Jaguar bunch the opportunity to finish 2015 as the most successful season in the history of the school, and to bring home the school’s first football state championship.