By Zack Steele, For the Tribune
TRUSSVILLE — On Homecoming night at Hewitt Trussville, the Huskies used a quick strike offense and defensive scores to steamroll Chelsea 45-14 Friday, October 21. By halftime, the outcome was long since decided, as Hewitt raced to a 35-0 lead.
On the opening drive, Hewitt gave Chelsea a steady diet of workhorse running back Jackson Melton. Peyton Floyd capped the drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Brett Moseley.
Chelsea moved the ball into Hewitt territory on their first drive of the game, but on third down at the Hewitt 36, Hunter Osborne deflected a pass into the air and senior linebacker Braylon Chapman snagged it out of the air and raced 64 yards to the house. The pick-six made it 14-0 after the Riley Rigg PAT.
Chelsea went three and out on their next possession, and Hewitt set up in Hornet territory on a nice punt return by Ricky Gibson. Hewitt made the short drive to the end zone as Floyd found Jaydon Loving for a three-yard pass. With 4:06 left in the first quarter, the rout was on as Hewitt led 21-0.
Chelsea drove deep into Hewitt territory on their next drive, with some nifty running by Chelsea running back Emmerson Russell. Hewitt’s defense rose up again, as Tyrell Averhart made a huge interception at the two-yard line.
From there, Hewitt needed only three plays to go 98 yards, with Floyd hitting Ricky Gibson on a 72-yard bomb. Rigg’s PAT made it 28-0 with 8:34 left in the half.
Desperate to get anything positive going, Chelsea looked to put the ball in the air. It proved unwise as Riggs Dunn made a perfect read and intercepted a Carter Dotson pass and took it 76 yards for the second pick-six of the night.
Floyd would be relieved late in the first half by Jack Ollis. Head Coach Josh Floyd said of the early change at signal caller, “Peyton is a little banged up, and we just felt like Jack needed some snaps, because we need him ready to go moving forward.”
Chelsea opened the third quarter with a touchdown strike to get on the board, as Chelsea’s Dotson found Turner Simpson for a 76-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Hewitt lead to 35-7.
The Huskies answered as Ollis hit Donovan Price on a perfectly set-up screen pass. Price rumble all the way to the Chelsea sis. Hunter Jones scored on the next play, and Hewitt led 42-7 with 6:02 left in the third quarter.
Hewitt emptied the benches from there, with several reserves getting in the ballgame. Rigg would add a 40-yard field goal late in the 3rd quarter.
Chelsea added a late score to make the final 45-14 Hewitt.
After 10 straight weeks without a break, Floyd’s message was clear: Heal up for the playoffs.
“We know we’re on the road at Florence. I haven’t seen a lot of film on them yet, but we’ll get a good look at them next week and hopefully have some time to heal up before them.”
“Give Chelsea credit, they were able to run the ball on us some,” Floyd said
Hewitt finishes the regular season at 7-3, with all three losses coming to three top five teams in 7A. Hewitt will travel as the number three seed in 7A region 3 to Florence on November 4th.