By Erik Harris
TRUSSVILLE – After a 1-1 outing on Thursday afternoon, the Hewitt-Trussville Unified Flag Football team has advanced onward to play on Dec. 2 in Bryant-Denny Stadium on the campus of the University of Alabama. The game will be played during the week of the AHSAA Super 7 football championships, also in Tuscaloosa.
Each Unified Flag Football team is made up of both special needs athletes and peer partner students.
The Huskies, organized by Carrie Jones and coached by Tim Meacham, dropped their opener to Lee County by a count of 14-6, but the best was yet to come.
They later took the field in Hewitt-Trussville Stadium with their backs against the wall. A win against Lawrence County would send the Huskies to Tuscaloosa, but a loss would mark the end of the season.
Tyler Ball had no intentions of hanging up his cleats just yet. The athlete took a sweep off right tackle and marched six yards to paydirt for what would eventually serve as the decisive blow. The score lifted Hewitt-Trussville’s lead to 12-0 with 4:27 remaining in the first half.
The first Husky touchdown came on the previous drive. Athlete Andrew White faced a heavy pass rush and delivered a strike to peer partner Tyler Tolbert into the flats. Tolbert, who would sign a baseball scholarship with UAB later that afternoon, turned up field and weaved through heavy traffic for a 17-yard touchdown.
Hewitt-Trussville pitched a defensive shutout for over 38 minutes of play. Tolbert picked off three passes and Ball broke up a pass in the end zone to preserve the Huskies 12-0 lead.
Lawrence County eventually broke through with only 1:20 remaining in the contest with a 20-yard touchdown scamper down the right side. Hewitt-Trussville then ran down the remaining time to officially book its trip to Bryant-Denny.
“I’m just happy for the guys,” said Meacham after the win. “They played well. I love it for them and it will be another great experience. I’m just thankful to be a part of it.”
Lee County, who went 2-0 for the day, will serve as the challenge at the Super 7. If the Huskies hope to avenge their previous loss, they must find a way to contain Lee County athlete Porter Caldwell.
Caldwell was the difference maker in Thursday’s opener. After peer partner Keegan Morrow went 12 yards to give Hewitt-Trussville a 6-0 first half lead, Caldwell went to work.
First, he pulled in a 5-yard extra point to put his team on top 7-6 early in the second half. Shortly thereafter, Caldwell went 35 yards on a short pass from peer partner Brooke Albirdi to end the scoring.
Erik Harris is the Sports Editor for the Trussville Tribune. Follow him on Twitter @jeharris2 or email him at jmseharris2@gmail.com.