Zack Steele, for the Tribune
TRUSSVILLE – Hewitt Coach Josh Floyd knew coming into the season opener that the 2023 Huskies would have to play a great game to beat arguably the most talented in the state in Central of Phenix City.
Penalties on both sides of the ball and miscues in the red zone spelled doom for Hewitt in their season opener, as the game got away from them in the fourth quarter.
Central opened the scoring with a drive late in the first quarter after a missed Hewitt field goal. A score from Zack Simmons Brown capped off the 12-play, 80-yard drive.
After another Husky punt, Central looked to seize the momentum. Senior safety Riggs Dunn stepped in and intercepted a pass from Andrew Alford and returned it 58 yards to tie the game at seven early in the second quarter.
Central answered quickly when Tristan Williams went 51 yards untouched to make the score 14-7.
Alford later found Andrew Tenney for a 52-yard touchdown pass as Central took control in the second quarter with a 21-7 lead.
Hewitt answered with a field goal that cut the lead to 21-10 as time expired in the half.
Central wasted little time as the third quarter opened. Dylan Gentry hauled in a perfect pass from Alford for another 20-yard score.
The Huskies attempted to to make things interesting with a 55-yard drive that was capped by a Kennedy Mitchell 3-yard run to make the score 28-17.
That, however, was as close as the Huskies could get to the comeback, as Central had an answer for every Husky punch thrown.
Alford again hooked up with Gentry, this time for 76 yards. After another 15-yard Kennedy Mitchell touchdown run, Central would add another score to go up 42-24 on a 3-yard pass reception from Alford with 7:14 left.
Alford scored his 4th touchdown pass of the night with a 52-yard bomb to Coleman to wrap up the scoring. The PAT failed, and Central would win going away 48-24.
Hewitt Coach Josh Floyd was disappointed in the mistakes by his team, but still has optimism for the rest of the season.
“That’s a great team,” Floyd said. “They may have more talent than anyone in the state.”
“We didn’t play well tonight. We can play better than we showed tonight.”
“We have got to be better in the red zone against a team like that.” Floyd added
Hewitt travels next week to take on Gadsden City.