Tigers thrash Patriots
Hartselle coach Bob Godsey didn’t have too much to say after his Tigers defeated Brewer 54-0.
The Tigers were almost perfect in the first half, scoring on every offensive possession, rolling up 283 yards and allowed just 38 yards on defense.
Godsey was just happy to see improvement from week one to week two and to be able to spread the playing time around.
“It’s something for our team to build on,” Godsey said. “And we got to get a lot of backups some playing time. That’s something that we needed.”
Speaking of near perfection, starting quarterback Deacon Aldridge was just that, completing 11 of 12 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns. He also added a rushing touchdown late in the first half, helping the Tigers lead 42-0 at halftime.
That allowed the coaching staff the opportunity to give Aldridge and other starters a rest in the second half.
“He did a great job tonight and we hope that he continues to get better,” Godsey said.
The Tigers put together an impressive 10-play, 65-yard drive to get on the scoreboard. Blake Slayton appeared to fumble going into the end zone from the 3-yard line, but fortunately Nick Beach came up with the fumble recovery in the end zone. Gavin Marsh added the extra point.
The Patriots’ best drive of the night might have been their first one, when the drove to their own 39-yard line and faced a fourth-and-1 play. However, the Tiger defense stopped Josh Wilson for a 1-yard loss.
It took the Tigers just four plays to make it 14-0. Slayton held on to the ball this time, scoring from 7 yards out.
Then after forcing Brewer to punt after six play, Hartselle added its third touchdown on the first play of the second quarter. Aldridge and Slayton hooked up for a 40-yard touchdown pass.
After a three-and-out by Brewer, A.J. Owens blocked the punt of the Patriots’ Michael Easter. On third down, Aldridge and Slayton connected for a 24-yard pass, setting up Blaze Lawrimore’s 1-yard touchdown. The Tigers now led 28-0.
All but 8 yards of the Tigers’ next drive came through the air. Aldridge threw a perfect fade pass to Jeston Thompson, giving the Tigers’ a 35-0 lead.
Just like in week one, Aldridge scored the final points of the half. This time it was an 8-yard touchdown run with less than a minute remaining in the second quarter.
Hartselle played at least three different quarterbacks and a host of other backups in the second half, as the Tigers grinded out the clock in the second half.
One of those backups got a chance to score, but from a running back position. Tanner Oaks broke free for a 23-yard touchdown in the third quarter. The PAT was wide right, making the score 48-0.
The final score came on Jamal Jackson’s 1-yard touchdown run.
Brewer, however, didn’t give up. Ethan Holmes recovered a muffed Hartselle punt return and gave the Patriots their best field position of the game at the Hartselle 45. However, they couldn’t complete deep passes to get in the end zone.
Slayton finished the game with 91 yards receiving and a touchdown on four receptions along with 18 yards and a touchdown on four rushes. Lawrimore had 49 yards on six carries. Masio Stover led the Tigers with 60 yards on nine carries, but he had a long touchdown reverse on a penalty.
The Tigers will travel to Hayden, a 40-0 loser to Cullman, next week while Brewer will play its home opener against Curry, a team which beat West Point 28-20 Friday night.
