Hartselle enjoys easy win over Butler

By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
The plan was simple for Hartselle’s homecoming game with Butler Friday night: Get the win, rest the starters in the second half and turn the game over to the reserves.
Mission accomplished.
Hartselle scored 41 points against the Rebels in the first half and held off several challenges in the second half defensively to preserve the Tigers’ fourth shutout of the season in a 41-0 victory at J.P. Cain Stadium.
The win was the seventh straight for the No. 2 ranked Tigers and puts them one step closer to a region championship for the first time since 2001.
The Tigers’ defense dominated the overmatched Rebels, especially in the first half with the starters on the field. Butler managed just 20 yards of total offense in the game, including minus-2 yards rushing.
Hartselle’s fourth shutout is the most since the Tigers recorded five during the 1980 season.
Hartselle scored on its first six possessions in the game to allow the Tigers’ to rest most of the starters in the second half.
Marquez Jones scored three times in the first half to lead the Tigers’ offense.
The senior, who came into the game with six straight 100-yard rushing performances, scored on a 20-yard run on the first possession of the game and added a 13-yard touchdown on a swing pass from Luke Bole that pushed the Hartselle lead to 14-0.
Jones added a 10-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that pushed the margin to 21-0.
Jones finished the night with 52 yards rushing on just seven carries.
The Tigers closed out the first half with a pair of touchdowns on third down plays.
Will Lang teamed up with Andrew Howard on a 44-yard touchdown pass on a third-and-8 play and Malcolm Fossett on a 52-yard touchdown on a third-and-2 play.
Fossett ran for 83 yards on four carries in the Tigers’ win.
Devin Malone recovered a loose ball on the kickoff and Blaze Lawrimore picked up his first touchdown of the season on a 5-yard run to push the advantage to 41-0 with 2:25 remaining in the half.
Dylan Stephenson was good on five of his six extra point attempts in the homecoming victory.
Butler drove to the Hartselle 15 late in the game before Hunter Hester recovered a fumble
The Tigers will be seeking their eighth win Friday when they travel to Goldsmith-Shiffman Field to face Lee-Huntsville.