BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- Spain Park football has gotten off to an incredible start to the 2024-25 season, starting 4-0 for the first time since 2009.
The Jags began its season with a dominant 38-7 victory over Sparkman. The following week, they traveled to The Met for a crosstown rivalry game against Hoover. Spain Park hadn't beaten them since the 2015-16 season, and that was a historic one as it included also beating the Bucs in the playoffs and ultimately playing in the state championship game where they were defeated by McGill-Toolen, 14-12. After taking a 20-12 lead into halftime, Spain Park scored first in the second half after a pick-six to increase the lead to 27-12.
The Bucs didn't go away though as they fought back to tie the game at 27. It then became a back-and-forth contest which ultimately resulted in the Jags coming away with the win, 39-37, and snapping the Buc's eight-game win streak over them.
"Anytime you beat Hoover, obviously it's a big deal. Our kids were excited that they were the group that finally started flipping the city a little bit, at least for a year. We fought with them last year, we had our chances, had a bunch of injuries that game," said head coach Tim Vakakes. "Two years ago, we gave them a run for a little while, so we've been on the doorstep a couple times. Our kids built a two-score lead, and Hoover came storming back and took over, and every time they swung, our kids swung back. We talk about being a heavyweight, about how every heavyweight has their favorite punch, but the champions have chins."
The battle between the two was a 7A versus 6A game as the Jags were moved down after the fall reclassification. They're now in 6A Region 3 for football alongside Chelsea, Benjamin Russell, Helena, Calera, Pelham and Chilton County.
"I told the kids the same thing, there's two things that determine classifications. One, how many students are in your building from ninth through eleventh grade, that determines what classification, and where you are on the map determines who all you play, neither of those things we have control over," said Vakakes.
Since Vakakes took over, Jaguars football has been trending upward. The team missed out on the playoffs last season due to key losses in region play but still finished the season 7-3.
During his tenure at Jackson-Olin, he compiled a record of 49-45 and helped them reach the playoffs four times. He became to first coach in their school history to finish his tenure with a winning record. Thus far with Spain Park, his record is 14-10. In a way, he's changed the culture and identity of the football team, but he isn't so quick to say that.
"I don't know if there's a thing you can just kind of put your finger on as a reason. I just know what we do, I'm confident in what we do and how we do it. We love on these kids and it's very consistent. We don't have a weight program for five months a year preparing for football, we have a weight program 12 months a year," said Vakakes. "We don't do devotions during the football season, we do them during varsity team meetings every day. There's a lot of consistency in what we do, there's no tricks... So I don't know if I have a great answer for that other than just getting in there and being old school and working hard."
To be considered a great coach usually comes with success and a ton of winning, but it's ultimately the players on the field who determine the outcome of a game. Spain Park has their share of special athletes including Clemson quarterback-commit Brock Bradley and wide receiver Corey Barber, who recently gained an offer from the University of Louisiana Monroe.
Vakakes says these guys make for great leaders and they tend to lead by example.
"So Brock has been a team leader since he walked in. He got here from Berry. Even as a freshman, he just had the 'it' factor of being a team leader, of being a hard worker. He's very talented, he's got a level head, everybody respects him, everybody wants to follow him. He's the hardest-working guy. Corey Barber, it means a lot to him, he wants the ball and he wants to help the team win," Vakakes said.
"But at the same time, if he doesn't have the ball, he's one of the hardest working blocking. I think his teammates see that, they know he's going to make plays, but they also know he's going to do what he can so other people can make plays and that goes a long way."
Spain Park travels to face James Clemens Friday night in a battle of undefeated teams. The Jags will look to carry their momentum into the game and the rest of the way forward. Vakakes says it's important for his team to continue to do what they've been doing and go out with a fight, regardless of the outcome.
"We just got to get back in the mindset of every game's a fight, get off the bus swinging. If it's an away game, so be it. We go to Helena in a hostile environment, it's raining; just keep swinging. We tell our kids all the time, just do what heavyweights do... Just that mentality of, getting off the bus if it's an away game; swinging, at home, start the game off swinging and whatever they give you, keep swinging back. Hopefully, we'll make enough plays to have one more point on the scoreboard than they do," Vakakes concluded.