Hartselle head coach Bob Godsey acknowledges that the last month of the football season has been difficult. The Tigers had their first losing streak since winning the state championship.

Godsey doesn’t make excuses for how it happened, but his team is pressing on.

“We have a good team. We have great kids. We’re going to be just fine,” Godsey said.

“Like I’ve said, it’s been a tough couple of weeks. Some of it is our own doing. Some of it is just the way the ball bounces, but we’re going to be just fine.”

The Tigers got just what the doctor ordered to get back on track – a dominating 45-0 win over West Point, which was celebrating homecoming Friday night.

The Tiger defense rallied from its disappointing performance against Muscle Shoals and allowed very little – three first downs and just 23 total yards.

On offense, Hartselle did use the game as a chance to give some of their starters a break. Blake Slayton and Deacon Aldridge had a combined nine carries for the game, which is way under their normal average.

That allowed others such as Sidney Steele, D’Andre Mack, Masio Stover and backup quarterback Brett Blackwood to shine. Hartselle also completed passes to guys like Tanner Oaks, Preston Adams, Zane Hamlett and Daniel Conley, who had the second longest play of the day with a 33-yard reception.

While the Tigers might be a little weary from playing an SEC West type schedule, Godsey said his team’s going to keep going forward.

“I’m starting to see some things you hope to see as you creep toward the end of the season,” Godsey said. “All that we can do is to keep getting better as a football team.”

With that attitude, Hartselle is pushing on toward the end of the regular season. They still have a lot in front of them.

Home field hasn’t yet been wrapped up. That will likely be on the line when the Tigers travel to Russellville a week from Friday.

But until then Godsey is looking for improvement.

“You just keep grinding – that’s all you can do,” Godsey said. “It’s been tough, whatever. You can sit around and cry about it, or you can just keep grinding. That’s what this team’s made up of – grinders. People that will just keep grinding and getting better every week.”

Brent Maze is the managing editor of the Hartselle Enquirer.