Rank busters

By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
CORDOVA - The team that finished with just four wins in 2007 is now making a strong pitch for a No. 1 ranking after two stunning wins over previously unbeaten teams.
Hartselle scored on every possession in a 42-27 win over Cordova Friday night at Hudson-Kirby Stadium.
The win, which came just seven days after the Tigers knocked off unbeaten Russellville, ended Cordova’s 19-game winning streak which was the state’s second longest current streak.
Hartselle improved to 5-0 for the first time since the 2001 season with another solid performance in the wake of the emotional win over Russellville.
Hartselle finished with 396 yards of total offense in the win against a team that had dominated its opponents for the last two seasons. Luke Bole threw three touchdown passes in the first half and Marquez Jones ran for three more in the second half to key the Tigers’ offensive production.
Jones finished with 218 yards rushing on 31 carries for Hartselle. His three touchdowns against the Blue Devils gives him 11 in five games.
Hartselle’s defense limited Cordova star Tim Simon to 131 yards rushing on 18 carries. He came into the game averaging more than 14 yards per carry.
Simon, who has narrowed his college choices to Tennessee, Mississippi State, Kentucky and Clemson, averaged just seven yards per run against the Tigers’ defense.
Cordova scored early on the Tigers, taking a 7-0 lead just five plays into the game with a touchdown run by Simon with 10:12 remaining in the opening quarter. It was the first time that the Tigers had trailed this season.
But Hartselle answered quickly with a Bole-to-Andrew Howard touchdown pass two plays later to tie the game.
Cordova drove the length of the field on its second possession, but Austin Borden and Carrington Bibb came up with a sack on third-and-long. The Tigers’ defense ended the threat by stopping Smith on fourth down.
Bole hit Braddock Wilson with a 24-yard touchdown strike on a third-down play to put the Tigers in front 14-7.
But Simon countered with his second touchdown to tie the game at 14-14.
Marquez Jones scored on an 8-yard run and Bole threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Manquez Jones to give Hartselle a 28-14 advantage at the half that left the Cordova fans stunned.
After stopping Cordova on downs, Hartselle drove for another score - Marquez Jones’ second touchdown - to increase the margin to 35-14.
But Simon wasn’t about to go quietly. The all-state senior willed the Blue Devils back into the game with a 15-yard touchdown run with 3:35 left in the third quarter. Simon carried the ball on all five plays during the drive.
Marquez Jones added another touchdown on a short run just before the end of the third quarter to push the lead back to 21 points at 42-21.
Cordova scored with four minutes left in the game on a 1-yard run by Smith to make it 42-27, but Daryn Raley blocked the extra point.
Hartselle drove inside the Cordova 30 in the closing minute before Bole took a knee as time expired.