By Kyle Parmley
TRUSSVILLE – Hewitt-Trussville rushed for 349 yards in a runaway 38-14 victory over Tuscaloosa County at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium on Friday night in the first Class 7A, Region 3 contest for each team.
The Huskies (2-1, 1-0) never allowed the Tuscaloosa County (0-2, 0-1) offense to get its feet off the ground either, as they allowed the Wildcats just 254 total yards on the night.
Hewit-Trussville RB Jarrion Street enters the end zone in a won over Tuscaloosa County. photo by Ron Burkett
“A lot of credit goes to them,” Tuscaloosa County head coach Lee Gibson said. “But we kept shooting ourselves in the foot. We’d get a first down, then a penalty, then a first down, then a penalty.”
Hewitt-Trussville put a pair of players over the century mark on the ground. Running back Jarrion Street, an Ole Miss commit, notched 150 yards and a pair of touchdowns on just 18 rushes. Quarterback Zac Thomas was just as lethal, going for 114 yards and a score on 12 carries.
“My offensive line is great,” Street said. “They have all come together. We have some young guys, but they have taken the challenges very well.”
Thomas and Street each had one of their rushing scores in the first quarter. Thomas took a quarterback draw straight up the middle to the house on a 51-yard play, and Street beat the entire Tuscaloosa County defense to the corner on Hewitt-Trussville’s next play from scrimmage for an 87-yard touchdown.
“Those two guys are special players,” Hewitt-Trussville head coach Josh Floyd said. “But all that starts with our (offensive) line. They played great tonight.”
Frederick Evans also broke the 100-yard barrier for the Wildcats, as he put together a 106-yard performance with a 32-yard score on his 12 attempts. His touchdown brought the Wildcats within six points early in the second quarter, but Tuscaloosa County was unable to find the end zone again until the game was out of reach.
Quarterback Samuel Cooper had a difficult time getting the Tuscaloosa County offense rolling for much of the night, as the Hewitt-Trussville defense wreaked havoc on the passing game. Cooper was 5-of-12 through the air for 26 yards.
“We talked at halftime about trying to finish this thing off,” Floyd said. “The guys came back out and still had some missed tackles, but give them credit. They had a good running back and a good quarterback.”
The momentum seemingly shifted early in the second quarter, when the Huskies tried a trick play. Davis Burgin took the ball on a reverse and attempted a pass, but was intercepted by defensive back Justen Little. Evans’ touchdown came two plays later, but Hewitt-Trussville was able to steady the ship, as Street scored with just over a minute remaining in the first half.
“It was probably a bad call,” Floyd said. “It was 13-0, and we were trying for a big play to go up three scores. But our guys did a great job of coming back from it. I thought scoring before the half was big.”
Starting off on the right foot in a tough region is important for both schools, and that was not lost on either coach in victory and defeat.
“It’s all about heart,” Gibson said. “Football doesn’t develop character, it reveals it. We’re going to find out what we’re made of.”
“It’s big. It’s such a tough region. Every game is going to be a dogfight. It’s going to be tough every week. There are no gimmes. You’re going to have to play four quarters of good football to have a chance to win,” Floyd said.
Each team hits the road next week for another region contest. The Huskies will take on Vestavia Hills as Tuscaloosa County plays Spain Park.
