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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Hewitt-Trussville quarterback Peyton Floyd (7) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown during the second half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Tuscaloosa County quarterback Brax Garrison (10) is shoved to the ground by Hewitt-Trussville linebacker Jamarion White (9) during the second half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Tuscaloosa County fans cheer during the first half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
The Hewitt-Trussville marching band performs during halftime of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Hewitt-Trussville wide receiver Ryan Shoop (17) gets pulled out of bounds by Tuscaloosa County defensive back Jaden Richardson (1) during the first half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Tuscaloosa County quarterback Alexander Ott (16) runs the ball during the second half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Hewitt-Trussville quarterback Peyton Floyd (7) runs the ball during the second half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Tuscaloosa County quarterback Brax Garrison (10) plays during the first half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Tuscaloosa County running back Kevin Riley (20) is brought down by Hewitt-Trussville linebacker Jamarion White (9) and others during the first half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Hewitt-Trussville running back James Hammonds (2) runs the ball during the first half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Hewitt-Trussville defensive back MJ Smith (27) and Hewitt-Trussville linebacker Braylon Chatman (35) run during a kickoff in the first half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Hewitt-Trussville quarterback Cade Carruth (16) runs through a tackle attempt by Tuscaloosa County linebacker Aidan Patten (6) during the first half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Hewitt-Trussville wide receiver Omari Kelly (3) misses bringing down a touchdown pass during the first half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Hewitt-Trussville students cheer during the first half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Hewitt-Trussville running back James Hammonds (2) carries the ball into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Hewitt-Trussville quarterback Cade Carruth (16) scores a touchdown during the first half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Hewitt-Trussville quarterback Cade Carruth (16) carries the ball during the first half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Hewitt-Trussville athlete Connor Thomas (21) plays defense during the first half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Hewitt-Trussville players take the field ahead a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Hewitt-Trussville wide receiver Jace Hill (39) runs on the field before a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Hewitt-Trussville head coach Josh Floyd talks to his staff during the first half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Hewitt-Trussville linebacker Brent Russell (52) tackles Tuscaloosa County quarterback Alexander Ott (16) during the second half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Hewitt-Trussville wide receiver Ryan Shoop (17) is tackled by during the first half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County defensive back Charles McGee (29) and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Tuscaloosa County wide receiver Gavin Gardner (3) catches a touchdown pass in the end zone defended by Hewitt-Trussville defensive back Blake Barlow (22) during the second half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Hewitt-Trussville running back James Hammonds (2) is downed near the goal line by Tuscaloosa County defensive back Charles McGee (29) during the first half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Hewitt-Trussville wide receiver Kadarius Barnes (14) catches a pass from quarterback Cade Carruth (16) during the first half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Hewitt-Trussville cheerleaders cheer during the second half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Tuscaloosa County wide receiver Gavin Gardner (3) catches a touchdown pass in the end zone defended by Hewitt-Trussville defensive back Blake Barlow (22) during the second half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Tuscaloosa County head coach Adam Winegarden stands on the sideline during the second half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
Hewitt-Trussville wide receiver Omari Kelly (3) tries to fend off Tuscaloosa County defensive back Jaden Richardson (1) during the first half of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
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Photo by Laura Chramer
20210910 Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville football
The Hewitt-Trussville marching band performs during halftime of a football game between Tuscaloosa County and Hewitt-Trussville at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Trussville, Ala. The Huskies beat the Wildcats, 42-7. Photo by Laura Chramer
TRUSSVILLE — There’s no place like home.
Class 7A No. 4 Hewitt-Trussville High School cruised to a 42-7 victory Friday over region foe Tuscaloosa County in its fourth straight home game to open the season.
Cade Carruth completed 23-of-36 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for two more, to pace the Huskies (4-0, 2-0 in Region 3). James Hammonds rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries to lead the rushing attack. Five different Hewitt-Trussville receivers caught at least three passes each in a game that saw a number of missed opportunities in the passing attack.
“We put the ball on the ground too many times,” said Hewitt-Trussville head coach Josh Floyd. “We’ve got to do a better job of throwing and catching if we want to win big football games. We had it open sometimes deep and we just didn’t connect.”
It certainly wasn’t a bad showing, perhaps just a little bit of rust. Carruth capped a 15-play opening drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jordan McCants to go up 7-0. Two drives later, Carruth called his own number and scored from a yard out. Hammonds found the end zone from 5 yards out early in the second quarter to go up 21-0. The Huskies’ final drive of the first half lasted 12 plays and culminated with Carruth finding Ryan Shoop for an 8-yard touchdown.
“They were playing off our receivers so we were just trying to take what we could get,” Floyd said. “I thought we did a good job being patient. Drives took a little longer than we’re used to, but that’s part of it. You’ve got to take what the defense gives you. Sometimes that's shots over the top. Sometimes that’s some plays underneath. Tonight they were trying not to get beat deep, so we just tried to take what they gave us.
Carruth added a 13-yard scamper in the third quarter to go up 35-0. Peyton Floyd rushed for 31 yards on the Huskies’ final scoring drive, capping it with a 3-yard touchdown run.
Tuscaloosa County added a touchdown with 2:26 to play when Alexander Ott found Gavin Gardner on a 15-yard strike. The Wildcats (1-3, 0-2) managed just 107 total yards and eight first downs in the game. Riggs Dunn had an interception and Tyrell Averhart practically spent the night in the Wildcats’ backfield. He had a sack and a couple tackles for loss.
“Our defense played great,” Floyd said. “I just think we did a good job of getting some penetration and did a great job of tackling.”
McCants led the Hewitt-Trussville receivers with 77 yards and a touchdown on three receptions. Kadarius Barnes caught five passes for 63 yards, Omari Kelly hauled in seven passes for 57 yards and Shoop had 45 yards on five grabs. Cayson Zackery caught six passes for 38 yards.
Hewitt-Trussville travels to top-ranked Thompson (4-0) next week. The Warriors’ last loss was a 35-29 defeat at Hewitt-Trussville in October 2019. Thompson has won 22 straight games, including two over the Huskies, since then. Thompson has allowed just three points across its four wins this season.
“You’ve got to play good football when you’re playing a big game,” Floyd said. “That’s playing well on special teams, winning the turnover battle, winning the battle up front. Those are big things no matter who you’re playing. You get in a big game, you’ve got to play well. That’s the only way you’re going to beat a team like that.”
