Pinson Valley High School - Chieftain Yearbook (Pinson, AL)

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Football 1976 Pinson Valley Indians The 1977 Seniors V iji i ' i ' ' ' - « ' VVif • ' — M—M IIM

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Competing

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A Season To Remember Aficr three years of hard work in the weight room, the Pinson Valley High football team could finally say before the 1976 season, This could be the year. Football at Pinson Valley got an early start as always on a steaming August day. On the practice field could be heard the moans and groans of a hot August practice intermingle with the fired-up chants of Beat Carroll . ' ' Pinson Valley, faced with a region game in its season opener, traveled across town to John Carroll with high hopes only to have them dashed by a rainstorm, a miserably muddy field, and a sharp John Carroll football team. Carroll led only 7-0 at the half, but the sharp passing of Carroll quarterback, Joe Sullivan, got a late fourth quarter touchdown to win the game 14-0. Pinson Valley, with their pride hurt only a little, regrouped to whip a tough Midfield team in their home opener 6-0. Though Pinson Valley threatened repeatedly, the Indians got into the endzone only once on a 78 yard drive in the second quarter. After evening their record at 1-1, the Indians braced for the Tarrant Wildcats. Tarrant had managed to build a 13-6 halftime lead, but Byron Bonner ' s 60 yard gallop cut the lead to 13-12. Warren Caddell came to the rescue with 8:07 left in the game by capping a 55 yard march with his four yard run. Bonner ' s two pointer made it 20-13 Pinson. Pinson Valley, now 2-1, next took on powerful Leeds, ranked third in the State. Led by a brilliant passing attack and a fine offensive line, Pinson never trailed. Racking up 382 yards total offense, Pinson won, 34-20. Mike Smith caught four touchdown passes in the wild and wooly game. The game was highlighted by an 85 yard kickoff return by Byron Benner. The Indians, now rated as one of the better teams around, suffered 90 yards of penalties and sponed a pair of monumental goal-line stands in the first half, but it took two fumble recorveries before the Indians could blank Brookwood ' s Panthers 14-0. Pinson had now won four straight games, a new record. Pinson became a victim of their own success the next week when they were upset by a fired-up McAdory team 12- 7. McAdory fired two long touchdown bombs to defeat the Indian team. The next week Pinson was again victimized by rain. Mortimer Jordan scored three first-half touchdowns via Pinson miscues. Though Pinson tried to come back the second half, they never recovered while losing 18-7. Steve Hallmark and Derrick Clayton led a swarming Pinson Valley defense that led the Indians to a 9-0 Homecoming Victory over St. Clair County. This was an exciting ending to Homecoming Festivities. After a scoreless first half, Derrick Clayton sacked St. Clair ' s quarterback in the end zone for a safety to open the scoring. Bonner ' s electrifying 60 yard dash for a touchdown iced the game for Valley. As a result of the win, Pinson Valley received the Dental Clinic bid to play Leeds. (See story P. 166) Following the Dental Clinic game, Pinson closed out the season on a cold Friday night at Gardendale. Gardendale won 34-7 as the Indians had lost heart after decision earlier in the week that sent John Carroll to the State Playoffs over Pinson by V-i of a point. All lold after that final cold Friday night, many people could look at the 6-4 record and say it was just another season, but indeed it was A Season to Remember! Season Record P.V.H.S.--0 John Carrol -14 P.V.H.S.--6 Midfield P.V.H.S.-20 Tarrant 13 P.V.H.S.--4 Leeds--- 20 P.V.H.S.-14 Brookwood P.V.H.S.--7 McAdory 12 P.V.H.S.--6 Mortimer Jordan ---18 P.V.H.S.--9 St. Clair County ---0 P.V.H.S.--7 Gardendale 34 Dental Clinic P.V.H.S.-21 Leeds 7 Standing. L-R: Coach McBay, Coach Murphy. Coach Jarnes. Coach Mariin, Coach Hand. Htad Coach, Jim Currier.