“I had a feeling (I might return it for a touchdown). As soon as, they yelled out ‘pick,’ they all started blocking for me.”

That defense is the thing that Godsey felt comfortable with the whole night. In all but a couple of plays, the Tigers were swarming around the football. Athens only completed nine of 27 passes with interceptions by Jackson and Phillips.

After giving up 164 yards in the first half, the defense tightened down only allowing 31 yards in the second half.

On offense, however, Hartselle racked up a large number of yards, but the Tigers failed to take advantage of its red zone opportunities through the first three quarters. Two drives ended on downs while another ended on a fumble.

“We had it down there a number of times, but we just couldn’t stop making those drive-killing plays,” Godsey said. “You just can’t make those kind of mistakes in a game like this.”

The Tigers did convert one time in the first half. Deacon Aldridge connected with Zane Hamlett on a five-yard touchdown pass. Hammack’s extra point made it 7-0 in the first quarter.

Athens took advantage of a Hartselle fumble and drove to the Tigers’ 3-yard line, but the Eagles could go no further as the Hartselle defense turned them away.

The bad field position, however, would come back to haunt Hartselle. The Tigers were tackled in the end zone for a safety, making it 7-2 with seven minutes left in the first half.