Caleb Suggs

Hartselle Enquirer

J.P Cain stadium was lit up big Friday night as fans packed in for Hartselle’s homecoming game against the Grissom Tigers. The town of Hartselle was in good spirits all week as parents and students enjoyed all the festivities that come with homecoming week, which include the seniors being the homecoming week champions by winning five of the six events the student classes participate in. However, when seven p.m. rolled around it was clear to everyone that the Hartselle Tigers were all business.

Hartselle would take the opening kickoff and immediately drive down the field. Quarterback Jake Tiffin would connect with Tobias Mitchell for a 35-yard pass all the way to the Grissom one-yard line to set up a one yard Zane Green touchdown run. The Tigers would follow up with a strong performance on defense as they forced Grissom to go three and out very quickly. Grissom would manage to get off a great punt to pin Hartselle at its own 17 yard line, but that wouldn’t last long as running back Taylor Easterling would bust a big run to get the Tigers all the way down to mid field. Jake Tiffin would then find Kyle Hamlett a few plays later for a 36-yard touchdown throw to give Hartselle a 14-0 lead with 7:41 left in the first. Hartselle would continue its first quarter onslaught after another three and out. This time backup quarterback Trevor Oakes would find Tobias Mitchell for a 40-yard touchdown pass to give Hartselle the 21-0 lead. Hartselle would finish the first quarter with one more touchdown, as Jake Tiffin would take it in himself from 16 yards out to give Hartselle a 28-0 lead.

From then on Hartselle would begin to pound the ball and work the clock, as Grissom could get nothing going on offense. Hartselle would add one more touchdown in the second quarter when running back Jordan Stover would take in in for a two yard score to make it 35-0 at halftime. There were plenty of festivities as halftime as the Hartselle homecoming court was presented and the 2015 Hartselle homecoming queen was crowned. Olivia Godsey was crowned the 2015 homecoming queen.

When the second half began it was majority reserve players on the field for the Hartselle tigers. Grissom would fumble the ball but it would be lost in the scramble and a Grissom player would manage to pick it up and scamper in for a 51 yard score to make it 35-7 still in favor of Hartselle. After a fumble of their own Hartselle would manage to get things back on track when Trevor Oakes took a zone read play 41 yards to the Grissom 23 yard line. Hartselle would stall though and Beau Nosal would be forced to kick a 34 yard field goal to make it 38-7. Grissom would manage to get on the board one more time to make it 38-13 but Hartselle had this game well in hand from the beginning. Hartselle would win the game and begin to celebrate the end of homecoming week.

While the tigers enjoy the ending of homecoming, they know that they must begin preparation for the arrival of fellow class 6a region eight rivals the Muscle Shoals Trojans. Head coach Bob Godsey knows the importance of this upcoming matchup, as he is not even giving his team 24 hours. “I thought we played pretty well tonight but we have a big region game next week and preparation starts now” Godsey said “Every play and every possession counts and our guys know that.” The current senior class is 0-4 in their career vs. the Trojans but their has been plenty of close calls including last year when Muscle Shoals barely escaped with a 36-28 win in double overtime on their own field. Now Hartselle gets them at home and everyone, including senior defensive back Lane Anders, knows that they are in prime position to pull of the win. “We just have to play our game” Anders said “I think in the past we let the media and stuff get in our heads with how good they are and I think if we play our game that we can get the job done.” The Hartselle vs. Muscle Shoals rivalry is becoming one of the fastest growing rivalries in Alabama and has featured many explosive games in recent memory. Next week’s 2015 chapter is sure to be no different.