The Hartselle Tigers run out to start the game against Athens in front of a dramatic sunset. | Brent Maze

ATHENS – Twin brothers Jaylan Jackson and Jamal Jackson are competitive with each other.

That competition was on display Friday night. The end result helped the Tigers (3-0, 1-0) hang on to defeat rival Athens (1-2, 0-1) 24-21 in the region opener.

Between the two, they accounted for three interceptions, a sack, a blocked field goal and a touchdown return.

“We like to compete against each other to see which one can do better,” Jamal said.

“Right now we’re tied for the most interceptions on the team. But we still have a job to do before we worry about that.”

That competition – and teamwork – was embodied in one play. On a 39-yard field goal attempt by Athens, Jamal came from the outside to partially block it.

After the ball rolled to the Hartselle 5-yard line, Jaylan picked it up, made several Athens guys miss and electrified the Hartselle crowd with a 95-yard touchdown return.

Instead of Athens tying the game, Hartselle took a 17-7 lead at the 4:43 mark of the second quarter.

“We see that every day in practice,” said quarterback Jake Tiffin. “It’s great to see them get rewarded for their hard work in practice.”

But head football coach Bob Godsey said that the Jacksons weren’t the only heroes of the game. He pointed to Tiffin leading an 80-yard drive in the fourth quarter that proved to be the difference in the game.

“Jake wants to be successful so much that sometimes that gets in the way,” Godsey said. “He made a couple of great runs on that drive and a big pass to Travis Crow that set up the game-winning touchdown.”

Tiffin said he was just doing his job.

“I saw that no one was open, so I just decided to run and get what I could,” Tiffin said. “I knew I had to make a play.”

Freshman Taylor Easterling was the workhorse for the Tigers, carrying the ball 24 times for 85 yards and a pair of 2-yard touchdowns.

The first came after Caleb Finn’s interception, which set up Hartselle at the Athens 23-yard line. Easterling accounted for all 23 yards on the first Hartselle touchdown.

Athens’ Paxton Scrimsher took advantage of Tiffin’s first interception of the season, returning it 50 yards for the touchdown to the game at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Cody Salem added a 28-yard field at the 7:07 mark of the second quarter. Hartselle led 10-7 at the 7:07 mark of the second quarter.

Athens returned the ensuing to the Hartselle 25. Lane Anders and Kris Doss sacked Athens quarterback John Bachus to force the field goal attempt, which proved to be a game-changing play, giving Hartselle the 10-point advantage at the break.

Athens took advantage of a 7-yard punt, which was due to Easterling, Hartselle’s starting punter, not being available after his helmet came off during the previous play.

Tarik Malone scored from 6 yards out on a fourth-and-1 play, cutting the deficit to 17-14 by the end of the third quarter.

Hartselle then went on its long drive to take a 24-14 advantage, only to have Bachus connect with speedster Terrence Watkins to pull back within a field with 7:39 to play.

But it was the defense that stood tall. Both Jackson twins hauled in interceptions to end Athens’ threats. Easterling then booted a 53-yard punt, backing up Athens to its own 11 with 1:44 to play.

Holden Langston then ended Athens’ final drive by recovering a fumbled snap with less than a minute to play.

“There were so many guys who stepped up and made plays for us,” Jamal Jackson said. “It was a great win for us.”