Undefeated Hartselle faces winless Florence Friday
Caleb Suggs
Hartselle Enquirer
The Hartselle Tigers started off region play with a big win over Athens Friday, 35-7. Hartselle is now 3-0 on the season. This week the Tigers will host Florence. Florence has started the season 0-2, with their most recent loss being 49-27 to Muscle Shoals.
Recent history:
Hartselle doesn’t have much of a series history with Florence prior to 2014. The Tigers moved up to 6A in 2014 and moved into the region with Florence. The Falcons dominated the region in its first year in 2014. They went undefeated in region play and advanced to the state semi-finals. They also had no region game closer than five points.
Hartselle played the Falcons tough that year, as the game was tied 3-3 at halftime. Eventually the Falcons’ depth toppled the hobbled Tigers, and they went on to win 25-3. Since that matchup though, Hartselle has dominated. Hartselle has won the past two games by a combined 37-7 (24-7 in 2015 and 13-0 in 2016). Florence has also failed to make the playoffs the past two years. The Falcons are 6-16 in those years.
Team strengths:
The Tigers defense has been particular strong the last couple of weeks. They have not allowed an offensive touchdown in their past two games. Even in Hartselle’s first game against Cullman, in which they surrendered 25 points, their defense played a good game.
The Tigers also have a knack for big plays. In their most recent win, the Tigers had passing plays of 30, 43 and 79 yards to go along with run plays of 22, 33 and 50 yards.
For Florence, the Falcons have the talent to compete with anybody in region 8; they just have to learn to put it together.
Keys to victory:
For Hartselle, jumping on the Falcons early will be an important path to victory. Muscle Shoals hit a few big plays early against the Falcons, including a big blocked punt in the first quarter, and Florence folded. If the Tigers can start as fast against Florence as they did at Athens – when Hartselle had two touchdowns just five plays into the game and had three touchdowns on their first four drives – then the game could be over by the second quarter.
What is important for Hartselle is flipped for Florence. The Falcons have to limit the Tigers’ big plays, and they can’t fold early if Hartselle jumps on them.
Players to watch:
Riley Wood – Wood has turned into a breakout star for the Tigers. He came into the season as a three-year starter at defensive back but made the move to receiver in week two and moved there full time last week. Wood was a star safety for the Tigers, but he might be even better as a receiver. He hauled in a 42-yard catch in his first game at the position against Lawrence County and he had two big catches, one for 30 yards and another for 79 yards, against Athens. The 79-yard catch went for a score, and the 30-yard catch was a superb catch along the sideline against good coverage.
Hartselle runs an option offense, which means the Tigers don’t pass the ball much. However, when they do, it usually results in big plays. Wood’s ability to make big-time catches could become a nightmare for defenses down the road.
Armoni Goodwin – Goodwin is a player to watch out for Friday night. The Falcons’ star running back can be a game changer when called upon. He rushed for more than 100 yards and two scores in Florence’s week one narrow loss to Clay Chalkville.
Overall:
The general consensus from the first week of class 6A region 8 play is that Hartselle, along with Austin and Muscle Shoals, is leading the pack, while everyone else is playing catch up. This is Hartselle’s game to lose, but it could end up being much closer than people think.
Florence comes in with possible playoff hopes on the line, as a loss here could all but end their chances at earning a playoff spot. Hartselle also has a big rivalry matchup at Muscle Shoals looming next week. A combination of Hartselle looking ahead and Florence playing inspired football could spell trouble for the Tigers if they’re not careful.
Final prediction:
Hartselle defeats Florence 24-10.