By NEAL EMBRY/For the Reporter

HOOVER — In a game marked by outstanding quarterback play for both teams, the Oak Mountain Eagles held off a Spain Park fourth quarter comeback to get the win Friday night at Jaguar Stadium.

Spain Park grabbed the first lead of the game, after a big punt return set up the Jaguars inside the Oak Mountain 25-yard line.

Senior quarterback Mason Duke found Trent Harper for a 13-yard touchdown pass three minutes into the first quarter.  Duke finished the game with 282 yards and three touchdowns.

Warren Shader, the Eagles’ junior quarterback, moved the ball down the field threw the air on their first drive, capping off the drive with a 23-yard touchdown pass to running back Harold Shader.

On their next drive, Warren Shader opted to stay on the ground, running for 55 yards and a touchdown to put his team on top.

The Jaguars, who ran for over 200 yards last week against Vestavia, were forced to the air early against a tough Eagles defensive front.  Duke answered the call for his team late in the first half, finding Owen Carr for a 48-yard score.

Not to be outdone, the Eagles scored again before halftime on a touchdown run by Daniel Salchert.

In the second half, Warren Shader continued to pound his way past the Spain Park defense.  Shader scored for the third time midway through the third quarter on a ten-yard touchdown run.

Just before the end of the third quarter, Oak Mountain once again found themselves with the ball.  After a penalty called back a 48-yard touchdown pass, Harold Shader took the handoff 50 yards to the end zone to extend the lead to 34-17.

Spain Park cut the lead to 10 on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Duke to Bridge Suber.  The Jaguars continued their comeback with a late field goal, making it 34-27 with two minutes and change to go.

After a failed onside attempt, the Jaguar defense came up with the stop, giving the team one last chance.  However, the Eagles’ defense came up with a sack, forcing Spain Park back to their own 33-yard line.  The Jaguars’ chances ended on a failed fourth and 33 attempt.

“I don’t care how ugly it was, it was important for us to come away with the win tonight,” Oak Mountain coach Cris Bell said.

Oak Mountain travels to Thompson October 24, while Spain Park travels to Mountain Brook.