Zack Steele for the Tribune
TRUSSVILLE – Hewitt Trussville used a balanced offense and a smothering defense to dominate Oak Mountain on the road Friday night. And Hewitt made a statement on their opening drive.
Using a mix of run and short passes, Hewitt moved down the field with relative ease on the first drive as Peyton Floyd was locked in.
“He made some really good, quick reads on that first drive,” Said Hewitt Head Coach Josh Floyd. “It’s something that he works very hard on.”
Floyd’s survey of the Oak Mountain defense was a thing of beauty on the initial Husky drive, finding wide-open receivers for eight and 10-yard chunks. Floyd would cap off an 80 yard drive with a 1 yard touchdown run only 1 minute and 45 seconds into the game.
On the initial Oak Mountain drive, sophomore defense back Will Phillips would step in front of an Oak Mountain receiver to make a nice interception. Hewitt would waste little time as Floyd hit Jett Loving on a wide receiver screen. Loving would make one man miss and outraced the rest of the Oak Mountain defense to the end zone. Hewitt was quickly in control after the Tripp Ward PAT, leading 14-0.
Hewitt’s defense would flex its muscle the remainder of the half, refusing to allow an Oak Mountain first down until midway through the second quarter.
A nice punt return by Riggs Dunn set the Huskies up with great field position early in the second quarter. Oak Mountain appeared to have Hewitt stopped at the 41 yard line, but Floyd would find Jacob Serena on the wheel route on 4th and 7. It was a 41 yard strike and Hewitt’s lead expanded to 21 after the Ward PAT.
Oak Mountain would finally string a few plays together to get into Hewitt territory, but Will Phllips would make another big interception to end the threat from Oak Mountain.
Hewit would march once again, this time the big play coming on a reverse by Dylan Cope for a 38 yard scamper.
Jacqson Melton would score the first of two touchdowns in the first half from 1 yard out with 5:46 to go. Ward’s PAT made it 28-0, and the route was on.
A quick 3 and out from Oak Mountain would give Hewitt time for another drive, and Jaqson Melton would cash in again, this time with a 25 yard touchdown run, and Hewitt would take a 35-0 lead into the half.
Oak Mountain managed only a three and out on its initial drive in the second half. After the punt, Hewitt would waste little time marching down the field again. Jaqson Mitchell would cash in from 2 yards out to cap a 73 yard drive, and Hewitt led 42-0 with 4:35 to go in the 3rd quarter.
A running clock was instituted in the 4th quarter, and Oak Mountain would score with 8:54 in the game on a 73 yard drive of their own.
The subs played the remainder of the game as Hewitt looked every bit the part of Region 3 contender.
“Our defense played really well tonight, ” said Floyd, “They set the tone. Still too many penalties, but all in all I thought it was a pretty good night.”
Floyd would finish the night with an efficient 19-25 for 262 yards and two scores. Jaqson Melton would lead all rushers with 63 yards and two touchdowns.
Hewitt hosts 3-0 Tuscaloosa County Friday night.