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Mountain Brook running back Harold Joiner (5) accounted for four of the Spartans touchdowns in a 41-0 win over Helena on Friday, Sept. 1. (Reporter Photo/Graham Brooks)

By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–Mountain Brook had no problem taking care of the Helena Huskies on Friday, Sept. 1, as the Spartans amassed 41 points behind star running back Harold Joiner’s four touchdowns.

The loudest cheers for the home crowd Huskies came before the game started as the Helena varsity baseball team was honored during a state championship ring ceremony.

Joiner had touchdown runs of 1, 22, 10, and 3 yards as Mountain Brook raced out to a 34-0 lead at halftime and never looked back.

In addition to stopping Joiner, the Huskies also had a tough time offensively committing several key penalties and turnovers in the first half to hurt their chances.

“I really thought our guys played extremely hard the entire ball game,” Helena head coach Watt Parker said. “We had several mistakes early that cost us touchdowns on some penalty plays. You just can’t let a good back like that have that many opportunities and of course Mountain Brook is a quality program and they’ve also got a lot of pieces of the puzzle and good lineman and a good solid defense. We moved the ball at times but with injuries that just really got us out of rhythm. We had a couple of opportunities where we should’ve had 14 on the board but the injuries come and you just have to fight your way through that.”

Helena trailed 6-0 at the end of the first quarter, but the Spartans started the second quarter with several explosive plays.

On the first play of the second quarter, AJ Gates scored on an 8-yard touchdown run to put Mountain Brook up 12-0 after a missed extra point.

On the ensuing possession Helena starting quarterback Lawson Peoples was intercepted by Mountain Brook’s Nick Belt and returned to Helena’s 20-yard line.

This set up another scoring opportunity for the Spartans as quarterback Hamp Sisson threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tye Pouncey to make it 19-0.

Helena continued to struggle offensively and Mountain Brook finished the half strong behind two Joiner touchdown runs.

Mountain Brook added on one more touchdown in the second half to make it 41-0 in the third quarter.

Several reserve players made their way into the game at the end of the third and fourth quarters as Mountain Brook ran out the clock in a decisive victory.

Helena will look to rebound next Friday, Sept. 8 as the Huskies open region play at home against Chilton County.

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