By Staff
HHS slips and slides into third round of playoffs with 13-6 win over Etowah
Nick Johnston, Hartselle Enquirer
Attala – The old adage spoke volumes for the Hartselle Tigers.
You know the one: If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
Against Etowah in the second round of the playoffs, it was actually more like if at first you don't succeed, throw the long pass again and win the game.
On a mud-drenched field in Attala, the Hartselle Tigers defeated Etowah 13-6 Friday night on a 30-yard pass from Kevin Jones to Nikita Stover at the beginning of the second half.
Prior to the scoring strike, the Tigers ran the same play.
"That was a great play," Hartselle head coach Mike Smith said. "I thought 'if they are going to give us single coverage twice, we're going to run it twice.' It was a beautiful pass and a beautiful catch."
"We needed a big play," Stover said. "Big time players step up in big time games."
Jones delivered the pass in the back corner of the endzone on fourth down, but he nearly did not have a chance to make the play.
After receiving the opening kickoff of the second half, Hartselle went three and out and was forced to punt. However, flags flew as Tron Meadows boomed a punt deep into Etowah territory. The Blue Devils were called for illegal participation and assessed a 15-yard penalty, giving Hartselle a fresh set of downs to work with. Four plays later, Jones connected with Stover.
Jones completed 3 of 7 passes for 70 yards, but two of his completions went for touchdowns.
In the second quarter, after the Tigers and Blue Devils had fought to a scoreless tie in the first quarter, Jones hit Jeremy Orr out of the backfield for a 16-yard touchdown.
Orr rushed 19 times for 131 yards and the receiving touchdown.
"It was a helluva win," Orr said. "Words can't explain how I feel right now."
See ROLLIN', B-3