Tigers outmuscle Shoals 24-14

By Staff
4th quarter touchdown gives Hartselle breathing room
Justin Schuver, Hartselle Enquirer
After Muscle Shoals’ E.J. Files scored to bring Muscle Shoals to within three points just four seconds into the fourth quarter, Hartselle senior quarterback Wes Chenault knew what the Tiger offense would have to do.
The Tigers responded with a 13-play drive that took more than six minutes off the clock before Marquez Jones scored on a 4-yard run to make the score 24-14, a score that would hold up as the final tally.
The Trojans (1-3, 1-2 in Region 8) gave Hartselle (3-1, 2-1) a fight Friday night at J.P. Cain Stadium, pounding the Tigers defense with a running attack that featured a two-headed monster in the bruiser Files (5-foot-9, 210 pounds) and the speedster Avery Jackson (5-foot-11, 175 pounds). Files scored both Muscle Shoals touchdowns and finished with 37 yards on five carries while Jackson had 22 carries for 99 yards.
The Tigers, who were stung by four turnovers in their previous loss to Russellville, took advantage of several Muscle Shoals miscues during the night — the Trojans had four turnovers total while Hartselle had none.
A key mistake by the Trojans came in the second quarter when a Muscle Shoals punt returner muffed a punt that was recovered by Hartselle’s Quinn Dunlap on the Muscle Shoals 18-yard line. The Tigers took it in six plays later on a 2-yard touchdown from Jones to give Hartselle a 14-7 lead.
The Tigers took an initial 7-0 lead with 5:50 left in the first quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by Josh Slaten. Muscle Shoals tied the game with an 18-yard run from Files with 6:44 left in the second quarter.
Hartselle added a cushion to its lead when Ray Canafax kicked a 26-yard field goal to make the score 17-7 with 5:46 left in the third quarter.
The Trojans’ comeback attempt was extinguished when Hartselle defensive back Luke Bole intercepted a Mark Holt pass with less than a minute left in the game. Bole returned the ball 26 yards, but was ruled down at the Muscle Shoals 1. Godsey instructed Chenault to kneel out the clock and Hartselle took its third victory of the season and remained undefeated with a 2-0 record at home.
Jones finished the game with 80 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown while Slaten had 21 yards on seven carries and a touchdown. Chenault had a solid night throwing the ball, finishing 11-for-22 passing for 127 yards.
Hartselle hosts Cullman (4-0) Friday night at J.P. Cain Stadium in a non-region game.