By Kyle Parmley
PINSON – It reminded everyone of “the Michael Dyer play.”
That characterization is in reference to a crucial play in Auburn’s 2011 BCS National Championship Game victory, as running back Michael Dyer landed on a defender attempting to make the tackle, never touched the ground, and kept running for a big gain that would allow the Tigers to kick the game-winning field goal.
Pinson Valley’s Torrey Hendrix did his best to duplicate Dyer’s effort on Friday night, in the Indians’ 28-13 win over Hartselle to open the season.
Leading by eight early in the fourth quarter, Pinson Valley faced a critical 3rd-and-8. Hartselle had kicked a field goal on the previous drive and was looking to force a punt.
Quarterback Jackie Matthews took the snap, rolled out to his left, and flipped a short pass to Hendrix in the flats. Hendrix took three steps before planting his foot in the ground and cutting back to the right, leaving a pair of defenders behind. He was wrapped up and slung down for what would have been an important first down.
“Jackie tossed me the ball and I saw (a defender) flying at me, so I stuck my foot in the ground and cut up field,” Hendrix said.
Fortunately for the Indians, Hendrix landed on the tackler, never touching the ground. In a heads-up play, the junior running back never broke stride, running the final 50 yards with no Hartselle jerseys in sight.
“I never hit the ground and I sat on his chest,” he said. “Then I just got up and ran and never heard the whistle.”
Hendrix wrapped up his first game of the season with 150 all-purpose yards, with 82 yards on 18 carries and 68 yards on 2 catches. He scored twice, once on a 23-yard run in the first half along with his 61-yard score in the fourth quarter.
The big touchdown sent a jolt through an already energetic crowd at Willie Adams Stadium. Hendrix felt a similar rush during his lonely 50-yard scamper to the end zone after many assumed the play was already over.
“There was nobody in front of me so I thought, ‘This is six! Touchdown.’” Hendrix said of what went through his head during the game-sealing play.
The junior sat behind Nick Gibson, one of the best running backs in Pinson Valley history, the past two years. After biding his time, he won the starting job with a solid spring and fall camp.
“He’s a really, really good, shifty runner,” Pinson Valley head coach Matt Glover said of the first year starter. “He’s hard to tackle.”
Hartselle learned firsthand how difficult it is to tackle Hendrix, with his ability to keep the play alive. Glover assured that the Tigers are not the only team to come to this realization.
“We even have a hard time tackling him,” Glover said.