Playing on the road a new challenge for Tigers

By Staff
Justin Schuver, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle coach Bob Godsey knew at some point the Tigers would have to go on the road during the 2006 playoffs, and he’s confident the team will be ready when it travels to face Gardendale Friday night.
While Hartselle won its first round playoff game last Friday night against Benjamin Russell, it came at a cost for the Tigers. Sophomore linebacker David Reeves was injured during the game and had season-ending surgery Tuesday night.
But the Tigers will not use Reeves’ injury as an excuse. They will continue onto the second round of the playoffs to face a Rockets team that appears quite similar to Hartselle in many respects.
Offensively, Gardendale has been primarily paced by speedy running back Roscoe Ragsdale, who rushed for two touchdowns in the Rockets’ 34-20 come-from-behind win over Scottsboro in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.
Quarterback Conner McCain is a dual threat, equally capable of running the ball as he is passing the ball. Against Scottsboro, McCain rushed for a touchdown and threw for another, a 40-yard pass to Desi Washington.
Gardendale coach Keith Luker said his team is loaded with senior leadership on both sides of the ball. Defensively, the Rockets have three senior defensive linemen in Chad Bearden, Brandon Sephus and Dallas Hand, in addition to senior defensive backs Eric Harris, Duenta Binion and Washington and senior linebacker Tripp Otis. Gardendale also has three senior offensive linemen in Bobby Ingalls, Treven Campbell and Burnon Moman and senior running back in Jared Mars. Washington is joined by Ralph Stenson as the Rockets’ senior wide receivers.
Luker said the thing that impresses him most about Hartselle is their intensity.
During the regular season, Gardendale went 6-4, including a 6-1 record in Region 6 play to earn the Rockets the region championship. Gardendale’s losses came to Class 6A Pinson Valley (21-6), Class 4A and currently undefeated Tarrant (33-6), Region 5 team John Carroll (28-6) and Region 6 foe Erwin (32-24 in overtime).
Oddly enough, Erwin was the only Region 6 team that did not win its opening-round playoff game. Cullman and Mortimer Jordan were winners in the first round, giving Region 6 teams a 3-1 record in the first round of the 2006 playoffs. Hartselle’s Region 8 was 4-0 in the first round.
The winner of Friday night’s game will face the winner of the Athens-Fort Payne game in the third round Nov. 24.