By Staff
Nick Johnston, Hartselle Enquirer
FLORETTE -The Hartselle Tigers beat Brewer 41-7 in a Class 5A-Region 8 battle Friday night, but according to Robert Peppers, it could have been a lot worse.
"We're very fortunate Hartselle didn't have their 'A-game' tonight," the Brewer head coach said. "It could have been worse."
Perhaps the Tigers (1-1) did not have their "A-game," but the 41-point explosion is what the team needed after being shutout in week 1 against Austin.
"We should have won that game last week," fullback Jeremy Orr said about the opening-week 7-0 loss to the Black Bears. "But we are working hard to get rid of those mistakes, and I think it showed tonight."
Orr rushed for 68 yards in the contest.
"The offense slopped around in the first half," Hartselle head coach Mike Smith said. "They (Brewer) were giving us things, but I wanted to work more on other aspects of our offense.
"I don't think we executed well in the first half, but we did what we needed to do in the second half."
"I'm proud of the way our kids played," Peppers said. "They didn't give up, and I take effort."
The player of the game may be Kevin Jones. The senior quarterback completed 7 of 16 passes for 154 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for one more.
Jones said he agrees with Orr.
"Last week I just made some first-year mistakes," Jones said. "But I'm working hard to get rid of those mistakes. Tonight, the offensive lineman and runningbacks gave me great pass protection and gave me time to get the ball to Nikita (Stover), Trey (Clark) and Chris (Wiley)."
Wiley's only catch of the night was a 64-yard strike from Jones for a touchdown late in the third quarter.
But Wiley's night started long before the touchdown reception.
With the Tigers leading 7-0 late in the first quarter, Wiley stood awaiting a punt from the Patriots (0-2). Nearly 60 yards later, Wiley put the Tigers ahead 13-0 with a retrurn for a touchdown.
"That was great," Wiley said of the punt return. "We executed the return well and was able to score. I give most of the credit to my blockers."
See TIGERS, B-3