1 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Hewitt-Trussville wide receiver Jadon Loving (1) stiff arms the defense in a game at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
2 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Hewitt-Trussville quarterback Peyton Floyd (7) follows his lead blocker Hewitt-Trussville offensive lineman Braden Valdez (77) in a game at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
3 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Central-Phenix City quarterback Andrew Alford (13) drops back to pass in a game at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
4 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Central-Phenix City head coach Patrick Nix (HC) in a game at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
5 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Hewitt-Trussville outside linebacker Jadon Cantley (20) and Hewitt-Trussville defensive end Verdell Snider (23) sack the quarterback in a game at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
6 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Hewitt Band plays in a game at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
7 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Hewitt-Trussville running back Deuce Alston (2) finds space to run in a game at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
8 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Hewitt-Trussville defensive lineman Ayden Moore (13) prepares to rush the quarterback in a game at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
9 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Central-Phenix City wide receiver Dylan Gentry (2) scores a touchdown in a game at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
10 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Hewitt-Trussville defensive back Riggs Dunn (12) , Hewitt-Trussville wide receiver Jadon Loving (1) , Hewitt-Trussville running back Jaqson Melton (5) and Hewitt-Trussville defensive lineman Ayden Moore (13) in a game at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
11 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Hewitt-Trussville running back Kennedy Mitchell (6) breaks free in a game at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
12 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Hewitt-Trussville running back Kennedy Mitchell (6) scores a touchdown in a game at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
13 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Honorary Captain Brandon Cox watches the coin toss in a game at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
14 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Hewitt-Trussville wide receiver Dylan Cope (4) turns the corner looking to gain extra yards in a game at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
15 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Hewitt-Trussville Cheerleaders in a game at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
16 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Honor Guard presents the colors during pregame at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
17 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Hewitt-Trussville quarterback Peyton Floyd (7) looks to pass down field in a game at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
18 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Hewitt storms the field at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
19 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Hewitt-Trussville Cheerleaders in a game at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
20 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Students cheer in a game at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
21 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Cheerleaders during pregame at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
22 of 22
Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Hewitt-Trussville quarterback Peyton Floyd (7) during warmups at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday, Aug 26, 2023. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
TRUSSVILLE – Missed opportunities in the first half and too many big plays in the second half proved too much for the Hewitt-Trussville High School football team to overcome Friday night.
Central-Phenix City, a Class 7A semifinalist team from a season ago, pulled away from the Huskies 48-24 on a hot night at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium.
The final numbers make the game appear more lopsided than it was. Hewitt-Trussville moved the ball successfully in the opening half, getting inside the Red Devils 30-yard line three times. However, the Huskies missed a field goal, fumbled the ball away and converted a field goal. Trip Ward’s 29-yard field goal at the end of the second quarter was all Hewitt had to show on offense with those three possessions.
“That was a big deal,” Hewitt-Trussville head coach Josh Floyd said following the game.
The Huskies trailed 21-10 at the half and answered a pair of Central touchdowns in the second half to keep the deficit at 11 points. But Floyd believes the game changed on a sequence bridging the third and fourth quarters.
After Central began a possession at its own 8-yard line following a penalty on the kickoff, quarterback Andrew Alford eluded pressure in the end zone and threw the ball away. The Huskies believed Alford was in the end zone when he made the throw and was penalized for intentional grounding, but the officials ruled Alford was at the 1-yard line.
Five plays later, Alford hit Dylan Gentry for the second touchdown connection between the two, a 76-yard score that made it 35-17 early in the fourth quarter.
“That was the difference in the game, that sequence of plays,” Floyd said. “Obviously, there’s things that happen the whole game, but that sequence of plays was big in the game.”
The Huskies kept fighting, with Kennedy Mitchell scoring on runs of 3 and 15 yards in the second half. But Alford, a transfer to Central from Georgia, capped off his first start in brilliant fashion. Alford connected with Cam Coleman, a five-star Texas A&M commit, twice in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
“We had a chance to win a game and we just couldn’t get it done,” Floyd said.
Alford finished the game 22-of-28 passing for 418 yards and 5 touchdowns. Two were to Gentry and the final two were to Coleman. Gentry led the way with 6 grabs for 179 yards, while Coleman finished with 149 yards on 10 catches. Jacob Tenney also scored on a 52-yard reception in the second quarter.
Central got on the board first late in the opening frame, as Zack Simmons-Brown finished off a drive with a 7-yard run to make it 7-0.
Hewitt-Trussville’s defense rose to the challenge early in in the second quarter, as Riggs Dunn stepped in front of an errant Alford pass and took it 58 yards to the opposite end zone, tying the game at 7-7.
“It doesn’t surprise me at all that he made that play. He’s one of those guys that’s going to make a play every week,” Floyd said.
The Huskies passing game had some shining moments, as senior Peyton Floyd went 19-of-35 for 225 yards. Sophomore Dylan Cope was the Huskies’ leading receiver, catching 6 passes for 72 yards. Jadon Loving had 5 receptions for 63 yards, while Jacob Serena had 3 catches for 35 yards.
Mitchell led the Huskies with 51 rushing yards on 10 carries. Floyd had 16 carries for 42 yards, while Jaqson Melton finished with 9 carries for 27 yards.
Hewitt-Trussville was missing stalwarts on both lines, as offensive lineman Kade Martin and defensive lineman Tyrell Averhart did not play Friday night. Josh Floyd said “they’ll help when they get back,” but commended the players that stepped into new roles and competed.
“We have a chance to be a really good football team,” he said. “I never questioned our effort tonight. They’re a good football team.”
Hewitt-Trussville takes to the road to play Gadsden City next Friday, while Central begins region play against crosstown rival Smiths Station.
