Goodwin, Huskies run away from Indians
TRUSSVILLE -- Beads of sweat coated Armoni Goodwin's face after Friday's game against Pinson Valley. He had done a lot of running in the August heat.
Goodwin, a Hewitt-Trussville High School junior, rushed for 227 yards on 21 carries and recorded four touchdowns in the Huskies' 40-33 win over Pinson Valley. His final score, a 39-yarder with 2:34 remaining, sealed the victory.
"I saw a little crease, like a little hole, and I just had to bust through it at full speed," he said.
Goodwin did that throughout the night. In addition to his final touchdown, he scored on first-half runs of 31, 4 and 53 yards. Goodwin, who has committed to Auburn, said he didn't expect to have such a breakout performance in the season's first game. But he knew his team needed a jolt, especially after starting quarterback Seth Shelnutt left in the second quarter with an injury.
"I had to put the team on my back," Goodwin said.
The running back didn't have to look far for motivation. He pulled his hamstring last season, and he said the injury prevented him from running the way he did against Pinson Valley. Goodwin made quick cuts and flashed explosiveness that proved difficult to contain.
"He's just gotten stronger and stronger this offseason, got in better shape," Hewitt-Trussville head coach Josh Floyd said, "and you saw that tonight."
Friday marked the first meeting between Hewitt-Trussville (1-0) and Pinson Valley (0-1) since 2009. The Indians, led by head coach Patrick Nix, entered as the two-time reigning Class 6A state champs.
Floyd figured his team would be tested. He was right.
Pinson Valley quarterback Barry White guided his team to touchdowns on its first two possessions, connecting with Jaquel Fells and GaQuincy McKinstry on strikes of 67 and 24 yards. A short rushing touchdown from Jay Sharp gave Pinson Valley a 21-18 edge at the half.
Hewitt-Trussville then received the ball to open the third quarter but couldn't corral the kickoff. The Indians recovered deep in opposing territory, and White zipped an 8-yard pass to Keyonteze Johnson for a score.
"You can't start the second half any worse than we did," Floyd said, "but our guys just showed a lot of heart and kept fighting, kept fighting."
Hewitt-Trussville running back Sean Jackson punched in a 7-yard touchdown at the end of the third quarter to pull his team within two, 27-25. The Huskies took their first lead of the game with seven minutes remaining in regulation when Omari Kelly took a reverse to the end zone from 17 yards out.
Huskies backup quarterback Cade Carruth, a sophomore, connected with Dazalin Worsham on the two-point conversion. Carruth played the rest of the game after Shelnutt's exit.
"Cade stepped up, made a couple of big throws and directed the offense," Floyd said. "He's got a great team around him, and I'm super proud of him."
Hewitt's 33-27 lead didn't last long. White, who completed 16-of-26 passes for close to 250 yards, hit Johnson for his fourth touchdown of the night on the ensuing possession.
But then Goodwin broke loose and broke the tie on his 39-yard scamper.
Hewitt-Trussville's defense held strong on Pinson Valley's final possession, which culminated in a turnover on downs.
"Those guys don't lose. They've lost one game in two years," Floyd said of his opponent. "They know how to win, and our guys know how to win too. It all worked itself out in the end for us."
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