Since losing to Shades Valley in the final minute of last season’s homecoming game, Stanhope Elmore’s football players have been ready for Friday’s non-region road trip to Birmingham. The Mustangs showed up and returned the favor, knocking off the Mounties on their homecoming night, 26-6.

“You want to go over there and make a big statement because we didn’t play like we should have last year,” Stanhope coach Brian Bradford said. “That was one we thought got away from us last year. They have a good football team so we wanted to make sure to play our best ball game.”