A Detailed Look at the Hillcrest Patriots’ 2021 Football Schedule

Hillcrest High School made headlines Wednesday by releasing their football team’s 2021 schedule. It features home matchups against some of the best 6A talent in the state. Below is the official schedule.

• Friday, Aug. 20 - vs. Homewood Patriots
• Friday, Aug. 27 - @ Tuscaloosa Co. Wildcats
• Friday, Sept. 3 - @ Brookwood Panthers*
• Friday, Sept. 10 - vs. Wetumpka Indians
• Friday, Sept. 17 - vs. Hueytown Golden Gophers*
• Friday, Sept. 24 - BYE WEEK
• Friday, Oct. 1 - vs. Northridge Jaguars*
• Friday, Oct. 8 - vs. McAdory Yellow Jackets*
• Friday, Oct. 15 - vs. Paul W. Bryant Stampede*
• Friday, Oct 22 - @ Bessemer City Purple Tigers*
• Friday, Oct. 29 - @ Demopolis Tigers
  • * - indicates Region Game

In 2020, Hillcrest’s team had an incredible showing, winning six of their seven region games. Their only region loss, to Hueytown, was only by four points. Led by star quarterback Ethan Crawford, Hillcrest scored an impressive 312 total points throughout the regular season - an average of 39 points in their eight played games. Unfortunately for the Pats, two of their regular-season games, a region matchup with Paul W. Bryant and a non-region game against Demopolis, were canceled due to COVID-19 issues.

Ultimately, the Crawford-led Patriots fell flat in the second round of the playoffs to Opelika High School.

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At the helm of first-year head coach Jamie Mitchell, the Patriots will take on a Homewood team Week 1 that Hillcrest defeated 49-19. Still, that Homewood team ended up with a 6-4 regular-season record and made an exit from the playoffs after a second-round defeat to Clay-Chalkville.

Three weeks later, Hillcrest will host the same Wetumpka team that gave Hillcrest viral fame. Crawford helped the Patriots’ offense score a game-winning touchdown on a multi-lateral play known as the “Bronco” play. This touchdown ended up being featured on ESPN and several other national sports networks. This Wetumpka matchup will surely live up to the hype.

This Wetumpka game is a part of a five-game homestand for Hillcrest over a six-week span. Besides their off week on September 24, Hillcrest will play the three other teams that made the playoffs from Region 4.

Hillcrest's senior night will come in Week 9 with a matchup with the Bryant Stampede. Following their last home game of the regular season, the Pats will travel to Bessemer City and Dempolis in Weeks 10 and 11.

Bryant’s Prediction for Hillcrest in 2021: While Hillcrest might have a new face leading the team in head coach Jamie Mitchell, they still have phenomenal talent at quarterback. Ethan Crawford will make huge strides in his junior year. After going 4-0 in the first four weeks, Hillcrest will drop their first loss to the hands of Hueytown. By the end of Senior Night ends, Hillcrest will be 7-1 with only one loss in region play. Hillcrest will easily handle Paul W. Bryant and Demopolis to finish 9-1 (5-1 in region play). Hopefully, this year will prove different and the Patriots will make a deeper run in the playoffs.