By Gary Lloyd
MOUNTAIN BROOK — Hewitt-Trussville felt good about its defense coming into Friday’s Class 7A, Region 3 contest at Mountain Brook.
The Huskies continued to feel good about it on the bus ride home from Spartan Stadium.
Hewitt-Trussville held Mountain Brook to 98 yards of offense and zero points in the second half, pulling away to win 28-10 in a key region matchup. Hewitt-Trussville moves to 5-3 overall and 3-3 in the region, while the Spartans fall to 3-5 overall and 3-3 in the region.
“It’s huge,” Hewitt-Trussville junior linebacker Bailey McElwain said of the win.
[VIDEO: Game highlights and post-game interviews]
Hewitt-Trussville senior Deontay Wilson runs an end-around against Vestavia Hills earlier this season.
file photo by Ron Burkett
Hoover pummeled Vestavia Hills on Friday night, making the Bucs 6-0 in region play and the Rebels 2-4. Oak Mountain moved to 5-1 in the region by defeating Spain Park, which fell to 2-4 in region play. Tuscaloosa County also moved to 3-3 in the region with a win over winless Thompson.
The scenarios are aplenty, but Hewitt-Trussville helped itself and got help from other teams Friday night. Next week’s home game in the new Hewitt-Trussville Stadium against Hoover will be important.
But on this Friday night, Hewitt-Trussville never trailed, taking an early 7-0 lead when junior quarterback Zac Thomas rushed in from nine yards out late in the first quarter. With Mountain Brook facing a third-and-goal from the 1-yard line early in the second quarter, quarterback Jacob Carroll fumbled at the goal line, and Hewitt-Trussville defensive back Deontay Wilson scooped it up and ran it 100 yards for the Huskies’ touchdown.
“My instincts just kicked in and all I thought to do was run,” Wilson said of his first career touchdown. “It was great. I had all my teammates celebrating with me. It was a great feeling.”
Mountain Brook’s Harrison Ritchie kicked a 36-yard field goal late in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 14-3. Thomas lost a fumble on the ensuing Hewitt-Trussville play, and the Spartans scored on a Carroll 1-yard run with 2:05 until halftime.
Hewitt-Trussville forced a quick three-and-out early in the third quarter, and two plays later Thomas burst for a 73-yard TD, making it a 21-10 game. The final score came when junior running back Jarrion Street scampered seven yards with 4:26 left in the game.
Hewitt-Trussville head coach Josh Floyd said it wasn’t the prettiest win.
“We found a way to come out with the victory,” he said.
For Mountain Brook, Carroll completed 18-of-25 passes for 159 yards. He threw an interception and lost two fumbles. He rushed 20 times for 55 yards. Drew Odum caught seven passes for 67 yards.
For Hewitt-Trussville, Thomas completed 9-of-13 passes for 116 yards and an interception. He rushed 15 times for 132 yards and two scores. Street rushed 13 times for 80 yards and a touchdown. Wilson scored on the 100-yard fumble recovery, and the Huskies also got a fumble recovery from Glenn Horsley and an interception from Jarett Nelson.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
