Homewood quarterback Woods Ray ran for 2 touchdowns and the defense pitched its first shutout of the season as the Patriots cruised to a 28-0 victory over Pelham in a Class 6A, Region 3 showdown on Friday at Ned Bearden Stadium in Pelham.

Homewood (6-2, 5-0) clinches the region title and will host a first-round playoff game.

The Patriots traded opening possessions and forced a three-and-out of Pelham on its second drive of the game, taking the lead on their second possession with a 3-yard touchdown run by Ray to cap a 7-play, 55-yard drive.

Pelham went three-and-out for a third straight possession, following the Homewood score, but thwarted a scoring attempt by the Patriots early in the second quarter. Facing a third-and-goal, Ray floated a pass into the right flat of the end zone and Jamal Miles picked off the pass with a spectacular one-handed catch while falling to the ground.

Despite the defensive stand by the Panthers, Homewood forced a punt on the ensuing drive and marched 87 yards in 7 plays to take a 14-0 lead on a 5-yard touchdown run by Mondrell Odell with 17 seconds remaining in the opening half. Pelham got a solid return to its 45-yard line on the ensuing kickoff but Clayton Mains was intercepted on the first play of the drive — final play of the first half — by Rigdon Gibbons.

Pelham (4-4, 3-2) opened the second half with a run-heavy drive into Homewood territory but was turned away on a fourth-down incompletion. The Patriots responded with a quick 6-play drive, scoring on a 55-yard touchdown run by Ray, and Clay Burdeshaw picked off Mains on the next Pelham possession.

Both teams punted on their next drives and Homewood put the finishing touches on the shutout victory with a 32-yard touchdown run by Calyb Colbert early in the final frame.

Star(s) of the game: Ray. The senior quarterback finished 10-of-18 passing for 118 yards and an interception, adding 85 yards and 2 touchdowns on 12 rushing attempts.

“We were really locked in all week because this was going to be a region championship (game). I’m so proud of these seniors and the team as a whole,” he said.

Stat sheet: Homewood – Odell led the rushing attack for the Patriots and finished with 8 carries for 22 yards and a touchdown, adding 18 yards on 2 receptions. Colbert had 52 yards and a score on 6 rushing attempts and Jordan Kiwoi had 7 carries for 27 yards on the final drive of the game. Connor Brunner had 3 catches for 44 yards and Charles Reeves had 3 receptions for 36 yards. Pelham – Mains finished 11-of-25 passing for 63 yards and 2 interceptions, adding 29 yards on 8 carries, and Markell Bell led the running game with 28 yards on 9 rushing attempts. Kamari Hollis had 3 receptions for 17 yards and Christian Johnson had 2 catches for 24 yards.

Coachspeak: “I’m really pleased with the effort and the work this team and coaching staff has put in this year. I was really proud of our defense tonight for shutting them out and we took control of the game. We ran the ball on them late and popped some big ones on them. We just had to wear them down a little bit and our O-line took control.” — Homewood’s Ben Berguson

He said it: “Coach had a great game plan. We do what it says because we’re going to be put into a good spot. We knew if we followed the plan, we would be able to shut these guys down.” — Burdeshaw on defense

What’s next? The Patriots play host to Briarwood Christian while Pelham hits the road to Chilton County.