Huskies upset top-ranked Thompson in season finale
TRUSSVILLE – Big time players make big time plays.
That’s the message senior defensive back Malachi Moore repeated to himself prior to taking the field with the Hewitt-Trussville High School defense late in the fourth quarter.
The Huskies needed one more stop to ice the game.
On the third play of the drive, Moore corralled an overthrown ball and took it 57 yards to the end zone to cement Hewitt-Trussville’s 35-29 upset victory over top-ranked and previously unbeaten Thompson on Friday night at Husky Field.
“I knew they were trying to attack the middle of the field, and I saw the crossing route, and I was going to break on it, but the quarterback overthrew it and I made a play with my feet,” Moore said of the play.
Moore’s touchdown put the Huskies up 35-23 with 1:32 remaining in the fourth quarter. A late Thompson touchdown proved inconsequential, as Moore — an Alabama commit — recovered the onside kick effort on his final play on his home turf.
Despite being eliminated from playoff contention and knowing Friday night’s game would be the final one of the season, Hewitt-Trussville (6-4, 3-4 Class 7A, Region 3) closed out the campaign on a high note.
“Our kids showed a lot of character,” head coach Josh Floyd said. “That’s what our program is about. That’s one of those life lessons that I don’t like being in the midst of, but we told our kids a few weeks ago if you’re in the battle, you may as well learn something from it. Don’t waste it.”
Moore’s pick wasn’t the only big time play made on the evening.
The Huskies went ahead in the fourth quarter on a 66-yard pass from Jackson Holland to Trey Washington, who beat his man, caught the long pass in stride and galloped to the end zone to make it 28-23.
Holland entered the game after Cade Ott Carruth left in the second quarter with an injury, an all-too-familiar story for the Huskies this fall.
“You’ve got a different quarterback playing against the No. 1 team in the state, backup running backs, backup guys on the o-line, it’s all over the place,” Floyd said. “I’m just so proud of our kids. I hate that it’s over.”
Moore wasn’t the only big time player on the field on Friday. While continuing to contribute in the defensive secondary, Holland completed 7-of-11 passes for 230 yards and two scores to go along with 87 rushing yards and another touchdown on the ground. He eclipsed the century mark on the ground before a late sack brought his total back to double digits.
“He’s a stinkin’ fighter,” Floyd said. “He made a lot of plays with his feet, had some great throws, and is playing every other play on defense.”
Omari Kelly ended the evening with 112 receiving yards on three catches, two of them on short pop passes that act as sweeps. His 41-yard burst on one of those in the second quarter gave Hewitt its first lead at 14-10. Dazalin Worsham opened the Huskies’ scoring on a 19-yard touchdown on their previous drive.
Thompson opened a 10-0 lead in the opening quarter on Evan McGuire’s 42-yard field goal and JB Mitchell’s 28-yard reception from Sawyer Pate. McGuire drilled three long field goals on the night, the others from 44 and 42 yards. Pate wrapped up his night 17-of-32 passing for 196 yards and three touchdowns.
After Thompson drew to within a point on McGuire’s 44-yard field goal, Holland capped off a momentum shifting drive to put the Huskies up 21-13. On third-and-15, Holland ran for 26 yards. On the following play, he hit Kelly for another 41-yard pop pass and scored on an 18-yard run on the next play.
Hewitt-Trussville's defense made quite an impact in the game as well, with the likes of Justice Finkley, Eric Taylor, Phillip Bentley and Landen Berguson all playing a factor in disrupting Pate. The Huskies held Thompson's potent offense to just 284 total yards. Sam Jones also pulled off a diving interception in the first half.
The loss does not affect Thompson’s (8-1, 6-1 in region) playoff standing, as the Warriors will still be the top seed from Region 3 and host a first-round playoff game on Nov. 8.
But as for Hewitt-Trussville, the Huskies gave a glimpse into what could have been.
“It’s not the way you like it, but it’s one of those things we tried to make the most of it, have a great week of practice and finish it the right way,” Floyd said. “This is a really good football team. We will always wonder what would’ve happened if we’d have stayed healthy.”
Click here to purchase photos from the game.