Daphne upsets Hoover 7-6 in 6A title game

Hoover's 21-game win streak was snapped in the 6A title game as Daphne upset the Buccaneers 7-6 Friday night.

Auburn commit and Hoover tight end Jaylon Denson was shocked that Hoover managed just six points in the loss.

"We're disappointed that we came up short," Denson said. "But we can't point no fingers at nobody because we didn't execute like we practiced all week."

Hoover scored the first touchdown of the night when a 47-yard touchdown pass thrown by senior quarterback Ryan Carter connected with junior receiver Reginald Johnson.

However, Larsen Real's point after touchdown kick sailed wide right.

The score read 6-0 until just less than 11 minutes of play remained when Daphne's junior running back T.J. Yeldon scored off a 1-yard run from the wildcat formation.

Yeldon said he knew he had to hold on to the football and had a pep talk with the offensive line before the play.

"I told them to block well," Yeldson said. "Rod (senior Rodrick Tate) told me to follow him and we got the touchdown."

Daphne's kicker Brandon Roberts made the PAT.

Daphne head coach Glenn Vickery said he never would have guessed that his team would hold Hoover to six points.

"If I had thought we could hold them to six points, I would be filthy rich," Vickery said. "We knew Hoover was a well-balanced team. The last few weeks we played a quarterback or running back oriented team. Our defense is pretty good and we felt like those teams were one-dimensional and we knew that Hoover was not with a great quarterback and a veteran offensive line. We knew they were the kind of team that could throw several things at you offensively. They have good running backs and great receivers. We knew defensively, we had to play a more balanced game. We're just happy to win by one and we will take it. Their offense is so good, but we did not envision six points."

Hoover had two opportunities to score with field goals. The first, a 36-yard attempt, busted because of a high snap and resulted in a 14-yard loss. The second could have been a 22-yard game-winner as it occurred with just 3:34 remaining in the game with the Bucs down 7-6, but it sailed wide left.

"I hate it obviously for that child," Vickery said. "But I know coach (Josh) Neblett and his spirit, he'll get that kid back."

Denson is four-star receiver recruit and has been committed to Auburn since September. He said he felt like he played a good game, but didn't feel that he played to his full potential especially toward the end of the game.

"I tried to come through for my team, but we came up short," Denson said.

He said playing at Jordan-Hare Stadium, his future stadium, was a good experience, but didn't end how he hoped it would.

"This isn't the way I wanted to walk off the field for the first time," Denson said.

Daphne put up 286 yards of total offense in the win, 99 yards of which were rushed. The Trojans held Hoover to 268 total yards.