Fumble recoveries spark Hartselle
By Staff
Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
CHELSEA - Hartselle overcame a rough first half on the road with a strong finish in a 34-16 victory over Chelsea Friday night in the season opener for both schools.
The win was the second straight for the Tigers over Chelsea.
Hartselle struggled with four turnovers in wet conditions in the first half before settling down to take care of the Hornets.
Will Lang, making his first varsity start, shook off two early interceptions in the end zone to lead the Tigers to the win. He threw a pair of touchdown passes after completing 16 of 25 attempts in the game.
Chelsea had trouble moving the football against Hartselle’s defense, a unit that had few returning starters from last year’s team that went 12-1. The Hornets finished with 86 yards of total offense and much of that came on one long scoring drive.
The Tigers forced five fumbles and recovered four to limit Chelsea’s offense.
Hartselle’s first touchdown was set up by a fumble recovery and the Tigers capitalized with a touchdown pass from Lang to Malcom Fossett.
But Chelsea, coached by Hartselle graduate Wade Waldrop, answered with two scores and led 9-7 after a 42-yard field goal by Alex Levinson.
But Hartselle took control of the game with a scoring drive just before the end of the first half. Lang hit Payton Sittason with a 9-yard strike to put the Tigers in front for good at 14-9.
Hartselle’s James Seiglock scored with 6:57 remaining in the third quarter on a 4-yard run. Lang then hit Mac Hendrix with a 2-point conversion pass to increase the margin to 21-9.
The Tigers’ defense tacked on two second-half touchdowns with fumble recoveries to put the game out of reach.
Cody Anders scooped up a fumbled lateral and returned it for a touchdown.
Austin Borden picked up a loose ball after a crushing hit by Blaze Lawrimore and rambled into the end zone for the score.
It was Borden’s second fumble recovery in just two weeks. He also had one in the Tigers’ jamboree win over Austin but stumbled on the way to the end zone.
