Huskies hang on for region win
NORTHPORT -- Leading 24-7 with 12 minutes to play, it looked as if all Hewitt-Trussville High School had to do was control the clock. However, two quick scoring drives by Tuscaloosa County and three-and-out stops by the Wildcats defense quickly made it a three-point game that came down to the wire.
With Tuscaloosa County knocking on the door of a game-winning drive, Hewitt-Trussville senior cornerback Malachi Moore intercepted a Connor White pass in the end zone for a touchback with five seconds remaining to secure a 24-21 win on the road.
“I’m just glad to be able to make a play for my team,” Moore said. “The past two series they was running boom plays, like fake screens and go. I just knew they were going to try something like that since it was coming to the end of the game. I just sat back and was patient and didn’t let anything behind me. They threw it right to me.”
The defensive stop was one of two interceptions in the end zone by Trussville’s defense in the fourth quarter, with Trey Washington making one early in the fourth quarter.
“Every region win is tough. We’ve proven that this year. We’ve been in some battles. I’m proud of these guys for getting the win,” said Hewitt-Trussville head coach Josh Floyd. “For some reason we like these tight games. We had a chance to put them away, 24-7. Give their coach credit. He’s got them playing hard, but we’ve got to do a better job finishing. It really came down to our offense didn’t get it done there in the fourth quarter. Our defense made a big play at the end. Great play by Malachi, a senior. It was a big-time play.”
Hewitt-Trussville (5-4, 2-4 in Class 7A, Region 3) received the opening kickoff and scored quickly on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Holland to Omari Kelly. The two connected five times during the night for 153 yards.
Tuscaloosa County missed a 37-yard field goal in the first quarter, but managed to tie the game, 7-7, midway through the second quarter on an 11-yard pass from White to Christian Davis. Hewitt answered in less than two minutes with a 5-yard touchdown run by Holland with 4:12 to play in the first half. A quick stop and two-minute drill put the Huskies inside the 10-yard line, where senior kicker Jordan Lynn drilled a 23-yard field goal as time expired.
“Jordan’s been money all year. We thought she’d get it done. Right there before the half we were just trying to stretch the lead from seven to 10,” Floyd said.
Lynn, whose field goal ended up being the scoring margin for the game, scored a career-high six points in the game with her second career field goal (2-for-2) and three PATs, making her 13-of-14 for the season.
“It’s always a kick you have to make. I would have never known it would be the difference in the game. I’m really excited that I helped us win the game,” said Lynn, who joined the team this fall from the girl’s soccer team. “It’s so much being out there with the guys on the sideline. I love the energy and I’m really happy I’ve made all of mine. It’s been a lot of fun. I love doing it.”
The Huskies added a touchdown late in the third quarter on a 6-yard run by Sean Jackson. After making a stop, Kelly broke a 40-yard play to midfield by fumbled while trying to stretch extra yardage. The Huskies defense held, but Tuscaloosa County went to work in the fourth quarter.
Damien Taylor, who carried the ball 31 times for 180 yards in the game, punched in a 5-yard touchdown with 6:49 to play. Tuscaloosa County’s onside kick went out of bounds. After forcing a Hewitt punt, Tuscaloosa County attacked again with a White-to-Davis touchdown pass from 13 yards out with 2:02 to play. Hewitt-Trussville once again avoided handing the ball back on an onside kick, but went three-and-out to set up the last drive.
Jackson Holland led Hewitt’s offense through the night, completing 19-of-21 passes for 266 yards and one touchdown.
“Jackson willed us to victory on some of those plays,” Floyd said.
With an open date on Nov. 1, Hewitt-Trussville will close out the season next Friday, when it hosts unbeaten Thompson (8-0, 6-0 in region).
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