By Phillip Cottle
For The Tribune
Hewitt-Trussville head football coach Hal Riddle believes in his team and it was apparent Friday in a dominating 52-20 win at G.W. Carver.
Hewitt-Trussville (2-2, 1-1 Class 6A, Region 6) rolled up 461 yards of total offense, but allowed 428 total yards to Carver (0-4, 0-2).
“We need to keep getting better, but we aren’t where we want to be,” Riddle said. “We had too many penalties. I don’t think our guys know what they can accomplish. I don’t know if they believe in themselves. We’ve got a bunch of good boys and I’m excited about the possibilities.”
Senior quarterback Blake Bailey completed 7-of-8 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns, 25- and 80-yard tosses to senior wideout Riley Stokes. Senior running back Peyton Palmer rushed 13 times for 104 yards and a touchdown and caught four passes for 44 yards, while sophomore quarterback Zach Thomas rushed five times for 60 yards and a score. Donald Voltz and Devin Reed combined for 87 rushing yards, and both scored touchdowns.
Hewitt-Trussville senior defensive lineman Chris Dixon intercepted a Carver pass and ran it in for a touchdown, and junior kicker T.J. McGettigan made a short field goal for the Huskies.
Carver went up 6-0 early in the game. After Hewitt-Trussville took a 7-6 lead, Carver scored again and made good on the two-point conversion to go up 14-7.
The game after that point was never really in doubt. Palmer took the second-half kickoff the length of the field for an apparent touchdown, but it was called back due to a block in the back penalty.
Junior defensive back Deontay Wilson led Hewitt-Trussville with nine tackles, two pass breakups and a forced fumble. Junior defensive back Jarett Nelson and senior linebacker Hunter Reid had eight tackles apiece. Sophomore linebacker Jalen Williams had seven tackles, and senior Caleb Rigg, senior Luc Riddle and junior Sam Partridge had six tackles apiece.
“That was an important win because it was a regional win, and that’s how we get to the playoffs,” Riddle said. “We aren’t where we want to be yet, but we are getting better. We just have to respect each opponent and continue to improve.”