Dominating D
By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle started off the Class 5A state playoffs the same way they finished the regular season -with a steady offense and a dominating defense – to end Scottsboro’s season Friday night at J.P. Cain Stadium.
Marquez Jones scored three touchdowns and the Tigers’ defense held the Wildcats' power-based running attack in check to claim a 41-7 victory to help Hartselle improve to 11-0.
Hartselle is one win shy of the school record for wins. The 1980 and 1981 Tiger teams both finished 12-2 under Don Woods.
The Tigers’ defense was dominating, allowing just four Scottsboro first downs in the first half. The Wildcats’ only points came late in the game with the outcome long decided against the Hartselle reserves.
Hartselle made some changes to its defensive scheme during the week, using one of its defensive backs at linebacker to keep Scottsboro's running attack in check. The Wildcats had only two possessions with more than six offensive plays.
Hartselle will host Boaz in the second round.
Marquez Jones, who finished with 100 yards rushing on nine carries, scored twice in the opening half as Hartselle scored on two of its first three possessions. The Tigers’ senior running back, who now has 30 touchdowns this season, scored on runs of 7 and 3 yards.
He also has nine 100-yard rushing games this season.
Luke Bole added a 45-yard touchdown pass to Braddock Wilson to help the Tigers post a 19-0 lead at the half.
Marquez Jones’ two touchdown runs in the first half gave the Tigers a little breathing room, but it was Bole’s touchdown pass to Wilson with 53 seconds left in the first half that set the tone for the rest of the game. After the Tigers’ defense had stopped Scottsboro’s longest drive of the first half with a key stop on fourth down at the Hartselle 40, Bole eluded a pair of defenders and found Wilson alone in a seam down the middle for the score just before the end of the second quarter.
Marquez Jones broke free on a 52-yard touchdown run just 4:10 into the second half to stretch the Tigers’ lead to 27-0.
After a bobbled kick left the Wildcats starting their first possession of the second half on their own three, Hartselle’s defense kept the Wildcats in check inside the 10-yard line. With a solid rush from Hartselle’s special teams players, David Reeves blocked the punt and Josh Slaton fell on the ball in the end zone for the touchdown to stretch the lead to 34-0.
Hartselle capped its scoring on its next possession when Bole hit Manquez Jones along the right sideline for the 13-yard touchdown with 4:23 remaining in the third quarter.
Hartselle’s offense and a touchdown from the Tigers’ defense helped put the game out of reach in the second half. Early in the game, Hartselle struggled with some mistakes and a turnover on a bad snap, but the second half was nearly perfect.
And that was enough.
Scottsboro drove to the Hartselle 17 early in the fourth quarter, but the Tigers stopped the drive with the help of a sack that pushed the Wildcats outside the 20-yard line.
Hartselle limited the Wildcats to just 176 yards of total offense in the first-round game with 148 yards coming on the ground.
The Wildcats’ only score came on an 18-yard run by J.J. Smith that was set up by a Hartselle fumble at the 16-yard line.
