Hartselle scores 21 first quarter points in 34-21 win
By Russell Frye
For the Enquirer
The Hartselle Tigers exploded for 21 first quarter points in their 34-21 victory over Jasper (5-3, 2-3). The win secured a top two spot and a first-round home game for the Tigers entering the 2024 postseason.
“Tremendous effort for our team tonight,” coach Bert Newton said. “Jasper might have been the most talented offense that we have seen all year long and the team stepped up and met the challenge.” The Tiger’s received the opening kickoff and marched 65 yards for the first score of the game to take a 7-0 lead with 7:43 remaining in the first quarter. Hartselle did not attempt a pass on the drive, running nine consecutive times. Jaheim Pruitt ran six times for 22 yards, while Carter Lee had a 14-yard run. Jayden Morris ended the drive with a nine-yard touchdown run.
On the ensuing kickoff, Jasper muffed the kick and the Tigers recovered the ball at the five-yard line. Carter Lee scored one play later with a 5-yard run, giving Hartselle a 14-0 lead with 7:31 remaining in the first quarter.
The Vikings held the ball for almost six minutes on their first possession but turned the ball over on downs at the Hartselle 40-yard line.
The Tigers capitalized on the Jasper turnover to take a 21-0 lead with 18 seconds remaining. Noah Lee connected with Cole Miles on a 12-yard pass that Miles then raced 48 yards for a touchdown after breaking a Vikings tackle.
Jasper’s next possession took over eight minutes off the clock but had nothing to show for it after missing a 37-yard field goal.
After the two teams traded possessions over the final four minutes, the Tigers took a 21-0 lead into halftime.
Jasper dominated the time of possession in the third quarter, holding onto the ball for more than nine minutes.
However, it was the Tigers who scored the first points of the second half, when Chris Hutson picked up a Vikings errant snap on a punt attempt and raced 20 yards for a touchdown, giving Hartselle a 27-0.
Jasper finally got on the board with a 13-play, 68-yard scoring drive that took just under six minutes off the clock. The Vikings rushed for a five-yard touchdown, making the score 27-7 with 3:43 remaining in the third quarter.
Jasper added another touchdown with 8:14 remaining on a 77-yard touchdown run that saw the Vikings running back break several tackles before running away from Hartselle defenders to make the score 27-14.
The Tigers got a 70-yard kickoff return by Cain Fal- ciani to give Hartselle excellent field position with 8:01 remaining in the game. The Tigers took more than two minutes off the clock before Morris scored on a one-yard run with 5:34 left to extend the lead to 34-14.
Jasper added a touchdown with less than a minute remaining to make the final score 34-21. The score was set up by the Vikings recovery of a bad fourth down snap that saw Hartselle’s Whit Chrisler fall on the ball for a 24-yard loss and a turnover on downs at the Tigers’ 35-yard line. Jasper scored six plays later with a four-yard touchdown pass.
The Tigers finished with 183 total yards, 106 rushing and 77 passing. Three of their touchdowns came on a 20-yard drive, a five-yard drive and a 20-yard fumble return.
The Vikings dominated the time of possession, holding onto the ball for more than 30 minutes, while finishing with 352 yards of total offense, 195 rushing and 157 passing.
“Our defense was on the field for a long time tonight,” Newton said. “But we handled the pressure by the Jasper offense and held them in
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check most of the evening.” Pruitt finished with 70 yards rushing on 15 carries, while Morris added 40 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. Carter Lee had 21 yards and a score on three carries.
Noah Lee finished 4-of-6 passing for 77 yards and a touchdown. Miles had two receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown.
Jameson Falciani finished with 20 tackles to lead the Hartselle defense. Jace Preuitt added 14 tackles and a sack, while Miles had 11 tackles. Hutson finished with six tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery and a touchdown. TJ Sandersadded nine tackles with two for loss.
Hartselle (6-1, 5-0) will travel to Muscle Shoals (5-2, 4-1) on Friday with the region championship on the line.
“This rivalry is quickly becoming one of the best in the state,” Newton said. “It seems like every time we meet, a region championship is on the line for the winner.” The winner of the Hartselle and Muscle Shoals game has gone on to win 5 of the last six region championships. However, this will be the first time that it has come down to the final region game for both teams.
