Butler defeated Jack Britt 56-28 in the state final. A game against Hoover would be much closer.
Photo by Randy Rimland
Chick-fil-A Bowl, LSU vs. Clemson
High school equivalent: Hoover (Ala.) vs.
Butler (Matthews, N.C.)Rankings (Xcellent 25, Freeman): Hoover 12, 8; Butler 9, 7
The all-South collegiate battle between LSU and Clemson is one of the most intriguing bowl games this season and is mirrored in a hypothetical showdown between Hoover and Butler.
The high-profile Hoover squad, made famous by MTV's Two-A-Days, had perhaps its finest season in program history, finishing 16-0 and capturing a Class 6A state title.Quarterback
Connor Short reliably led the team's offense, throwing for 2,460 yards and 30 touchdowns.
The team's secondary, however, was its strength. Senior
Devon Earl and junior blue-chip recruit
Marlon Humphrey combined for seven interceptions and anchored a defense that allowed 20 or more points only twice.
With quarterback
Riley Ferguson, Butler would certainly challenge the Bucs' defense. Receiver
Uriah Lemay caught 52 passes for 1,041 yards and 12 scores.
Channing Stribling, who also plays in the secondary, is another very capable offensive threat.
For as impressive as Hoover's defense was, Butler's defensive unit was probably even more dominant. It allowed a mere 128 points in 15 games.
Linebackers
Peter Kalambayi and
Sean Wiggins were sensational, accounting for nearly 300 tackles between them. Stribling and sophomore
Jalen Cousar power the secondary and defensive line, respectively.
This game would likely come down to which quarterback, Short or Ferguson, could make a key play.
Our projection (neutral field): Hoover 27, Butler 26
