Caleb Suggs

Hartselle Enquirer

The Hartselle and Cullman rivalry has featured quite a few crazy and awesome moments over its long history. However, some of its best moments have come in the past seven years. In 2010, Hartselle renewed their rivalry with Cullman after not playing for two years; they have played eight times since. In those eight games, only two (2010 and 2014) have been decided by more than 10 points. Those eight games have been especially kind to the Hartselle Tigers. Hartselle is 7-1 in that stretch with their only loss coming on a rainy night in Cullman in 2013. Here on ten of the top moments from those eight games.

10. Hartselle holds Ben Moore to 52 yards in 2010.

In 2010, Hartselle and Cullman met twice. In the first meeting, Hartselle escaped a fierce comeback from Cullman by the skin of their teeth. Hartselle may have escaped, but that didn’t stop Cullman running back Ben Moore from lighting up the stat book with 200 plus yards rushing and three touchdowns. The second time around though, Hartselle had revenge on their mind. The Tigers held Moore to just 52 yards rushing in the second game and held the Bearcats to six points.

9. Fossett opens the game with a bang.

Hartselle’s meeting with Cullman in 2010 had a lot of excitement, as the two teams hadn’t met in two years. Senior running back Malcolm Fossett made sure to start the game with a pop as he broke a 63-yard touchdown on the first play of the game.

8. Stover puts a cap on Rain Bowl II

The 2016 meeting between the two teams featured a lot of rain and mud. The quarterbacks hated it, but the running backs made the most of it. Jordan Stover turned in a career performance with 272 yards rushing. Stover’s biggest run came at the end of the game. Hartselle was holding on to a three-point lead and needed a big play to put the game out of reach. Stover answered the call with a 31-yard touchdown run to seal the game.

7. Tigers shut out Cullman.

The 2014 meeting wasn’t the greatest from a game standpoint, but it featured an important milestone in the rivalry. Hartselle held the Bearcats scoreless for the first time in Hartselle head coach Bob Godsey’s tenure for the Tigers.

6. Hard hits and interceptions

Fans are accustomed to seeing plenty of exciting plays and hard hits in the Hartselle and Cullman game and the 2011 meeting featured plenty. This meeting featured several turnovers including six from Cullman, but it was a late interception that was the craziest. Late in the game, Cullman quarterback launched a pass over the middle of the field for Troy Forrest. Hartselle defensive back Dax Gillespie, known for his hard-hitting ability, nailed Forrest and knocked the ball out, which was intercepted by Jordan Orr. On the return, Crocker leveled Orr and when the play was finally over the four players, the two who were hit and the two who delivered the hits, were all down on the play. All four got up and walked off, but it still was a crazy moment.

5. Gillespie tracks down Hendrix.

If you’re in Alabama fan, no matter what age, you’re sure to have seen the famous play of George Teague running down Miami’s Lamar Thomas and stripping the ball from behind in the 92 National Championship game. In 2010, Hartselle’s Gillespie put his own spin on the play. Down 16-0, Cullman’s Wesley Hendrix caught a pass and went streaking towards the end zone, only to have the ball stripped by Gillespie just before reaching the goal line.

4. Cullman’s trick seals the win.

Hartselle fans won’t like this one, but there is no doubting this play was a huge moment. Cullman held just a 7-6 lead in what was a rainy defensive struggle at Oliver Woodard stadium. The Bearcats executed a perfectly called double-pass trick play for a 46-yard touchdown. The trick play helped Cullman secure their only win since 2010.

3. Welch saves the day/Slayton makes a statement.

The 2012 meeting was a slugfest if there ever was one. With the game tied at 14, Hartselle got the ball back with just over 2 minutes and went downfield to win the game. The drive was almost thwarted with a fumble, but offensive lineman Mykel Welch saved the day by hopping on the fumble. Hartselle was just trying to get a field goal but a big play that got them down to the one yard line changed that. Hartselle decided to go for the statement win by choosing to go for a touchdown instead of a field goal. Blake Slayton ran it in with three seconds left to give Hartselle the 21-14 win.

2. Gillespie seals the deal.

Dax Gillespie seemed to have a knack for making big plays in this rivalry, but his interception in the first of the 2010 meetings was the biggest. Cullman emptied the playbook to rally from a 16-0 deficit and had the Tigers on their heels late in the game down just 30-27. Gillespie’s interception at the goal line in the fourth quarter ended the comeback and gave Hartselle its third straight region title.

1. Hartselle stuffs Cullman at the goal line.

There is not many things in football that are more dramatic than a goal line stand, and when you make that stand on a two point conversion try in the pouring rain to win the game, it just makes it even better. Cullman scored a touchdown in the closing minute of the game to cut the lead to 14-13, and then opted to go for the win instead of the tie. The bold move backfired as the Tigers stopped them cold at the goal line to preserve the win. It was easily the most dramatic moment in the series.