Caleb Suggs

Hartselle Enquirer

It was a night filled uncertainty for the Hartselle Tigers. The Tigers were in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2005, and needed some help to get in. However, Hartselle chose to focus on what they could do when they welcomed Columbia for senior night.

It didn’t take long for Hartselle to get going as they scored quickly on the first drive. Keondre Swoopes ran it in from 26 yards out to give the Tigers the lead 7-0. After a fumbled punt, the Tigers added to that lead with a seven yard score by running back Taylor Easterling. A Jackson Terry 53 yard fumble returned for a touchdown capped off the first quarter scoring and gave Hartselle the 21-0 lead. Hartselle added one more first half score when Easterling banged it in from a yard out.

In the second half, Hartselle kept a vanilla gameplan, but that didn’t keep them from putting up the points.

Quarterback Luke Godsey kicked off the scoring with an 11-yard touchdown run to put the Tigers up 34-0. Then, an interception returned by Drew Cartee and a fumble returned by Keondre Swoopes gave the Tigers a 48-0 lead. Hartselle capped off the scoring late in the fourth with a touchdown rub by Adam Hampton as Hartselle took the win 54-0.

After the game, the feeling of uncertainty was still there as the Tigers were still awaiting their fate. “I really don’t know what to say given the situation that we’re in,” Head coach Bob Godsey said. “Regardless of the outcome this is a great group of kids and this has been a great year.” Senior running back Taylor Easterling shared the sentiment. “We had our ups and downs this season and there were times where it just didn’t go our way,” Easterling said. “If this is our last game I’m going to miss every single bit of it.”

Unfortunately for the Tigers, Hazel Green came up short against the Florence Falcons keeping the Tigers from the playoffs. Hartselle’s 12-year playoff streak was one of the most impressive in their classification. Hartselle ends the season with a 6-4 record.