Each game Wednesday ended in a shutout victory:
GDW Analysis:
GOOD HOPE: Something common for Good Hope Raider football was held Wednesday afternoon.
The Raiders took part in a spring jamboree, with the Fyffe Red Devils and Vinemont Eagles joining them as the opposition from James Shabel Stadium.
Raider coach Alan Scott was grateful for decent weather to play the event as the games were scheduled for Friday. Possible stormy weather had Scott to look at another option and also get this done while the school is in the process of the 2024 class graduating on Saturday.
Fyffe's Red Devils are a known name for greatness in Class 2A.
The school in Dekalb County has won six AHSAA championships, back to back from 2022 and 2023.
Fyffe came to Shabel Stadium and put in a good workout by shutting out Good Hope 14 to 0 and Vinemont 27 to 0 in its two quarter assignments with the local teams.
The finale was a defensive battle as Good Hope edged Vinemont by the score of 3 to 0.
Against Good Hope, the Red Devils had possession first and drove 70 yards to the end zone for a 7 to 0 lead.
Fyffe would score on a 50 yard pass from Maddox Doss to Ryder Smith early in the 2nd, making it 14 to 0.
Good Hope had good moments on defense, stopping Fyffe on three other series on 4th down plays from the GH 31, GH 14 and Fyffe 49.
Coach Scott's Raiders experienced a tough time in the first quarter, being held to minus 16 yards.
A 19 yard run by Tyler Byrd late in the 2nd gave the Raiders a first down at the Fyffe 30. A pass of 18 yards by Web Buchanan to Cody Stevens moved the Raiders to the 11.
However, Buchanan was called for intentional grounding and the final play of the game, a field goal try from 35 yards out missed.
Two big plays for Fyffe in the opening period with Vinemont enabled them to end the quarter on top at 21 to 0.
Ryder Gipson raced 63 yards around left end for the first score. A 60 yard jaunt up the middle by Logan Anderson at 1:50 of the stanza pushed the margin to a three touchdown advantage.
Vinemont struggled in moving the ball against the Fyffe defense.
The Eagles had 27 yards total offense through two quarters and two first downs.
When the Raiders and the Eagles tangled, field position set up the only score of the afternoon for Good Hope.
The Raiders stopped the Eagles on downs, took over at the Vinemont 36 in its first series and would move it downfield before the series stalled.
Robert Rodriguez booted a 36 yard field goal for the Raiders to go ahead 3 to 0 with 6:33 remaining in the 1st.
Good Hope had a good drive moving in the 2nd, only to commit a turnover to see it end.
Tyler Cone threw a pass downfield with Ayden Henderson intercepting for the Eagles at the one and bringing it to the Vinemont 24.
Vinemont's last series was from its 40 with 1:35 to go. The Eagles got a 12 yard run for a first down on the final play at the Good Hope 40.
The game was over as each winner compiled a shutout performance.
For the 2024 season, the Raiders will kick it off on August 30 against county rival West Point at West Point Stadium.
Coach Robinson's Eagles will open a week earlier, seeing the Falkville Blue Devils visit Mark Smothers Stadium August 23.
Photo of Fyffe at Good Hope in pregame.
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Amber.
