By Staff
Justin Schuver, Hartselle Enquirer
CULLMAN — A balanced offensive attack proved dividends for the Tigers as they improved to 8-1 and 6-1 in region play with a 46-3 win over West Point Friday night.
Hartselle scored three touchdowns through the air and three on the ground as well as an interception return for a touchdown in the rout of a winless Warriors (0-9, 0-7) team.
Senior quarterback Wes Chenault threw for three touchdowns in the first half, with two of the scoring passes going to fellow senior Quinn Dunlap. Chenault finished the game 10-of-12 passing for 163 yards and three touchdowns. Sophomore running back Josh Slaten had two rushing touchdowns and Nikko Stover scored his first touchdown of the season.
Godsey played the second string for most of the second half, and the Tigers’ B team responded well, holding West Point off the scoreboard while adding two more touchdowns. The Warriors’ only points came in the second quarter on a 33-yard field goal by Cody Brunkenhoffer.
West Point drove down to the Hartselle 5-yard line late in the fourth quarter, but Hartselle’s defense held when Nick Graham was tackled short of the end zone on a fourth-down attempt. The Tigers were then able to run out the clock.
With the victory, Hartselle assured itself of second place in Region 8 and guaranteed home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
It did not take long for the Tigers’ offense to click, as Chenault found Marquez Jones for a 62-yard touchdown catch on the first play from scrimmage. Jones caught a short pass, then followed his blocking and outran the West Point defense for the rest.
The Warriors fumbled the ball on their first play from scrimmage, and three plays later Chenault found Quinn Dunlap open for a 22-yard touchdown. Josh Slaten added a 2-yard touchdown midway through the second half to make the score 18-0.
Chenault found Dunlap again with 48 seconds left in the first half, this time hooking up for a 2-yard score. On West Point’s ensuing possession, Hartselle defensive back Manquez Jones picked off a pass from Steven Miller and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown with just six seconds remaining and Hartselle led 32-3 at halftime.
Slaten had his second touchdown of the game on a 3-yard scamper with 7:09 left in the third quarter and Stover had a 59-yard touchdown run with 9:01 remaining in the game.
Hartselle will try to win nine games in the regular season for the first time since 1994 when they entertain Huntsville (6-3) at J.P. Cain Stadium tonight.
The Tigers host Benjamin Russell (7-2, 5-2 in Region 5) in the first round of the playoffs at J.P. Cain Stadium Nov. 10.