Despite losing their two leading scorers for the rest of the season, Hillcrest's goal of getting back to the state championship and winning it all hasn't changed.
The Armwood Hawks (0-1) took a 9-hour bus ride to Tuscaloosa, Al., to take on the Hillcrest Patriots (2-0) in a high profile week two matchup. The Patriots sent the Hawks home to Florida with a 35-25 loss behind the effort of star quarterback Ethan Crawford's five rushing touchdowns.
The Hillcrest Patriots (11-2) will be moving on the the AHSAA Class 6A semifinals after defeating the Saraland Spartans (10-3) at home 24-16. The Patriots scored 24 unanswered points in the second half to get back to the 6A semifinals for the first time since 2017.
Hillcrest, led by first-year Patriots head coach Jamie Mitchell, traveled to Northport Friday to take on the rival Tuscaloosa County Wildcats. T-County, who also has a first-year head coach in Adam Winegarden, fell 35-10. This is the eighth year in a row that the Pats were victorious.