By Gary Lloyd
TRUSSVILLE — If this was the final varsity football game at Jack Wood Stadium, it ended in a sour way for Hewitt-Trussville.
No. 7 Oak Mountain escaped a late surge from the Huskies and won 45-38 on Hewitt-Trussville’s homecoming. Oak Mountain moves to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in Class 7A, Region 3, while Hewitt-Trussville falls to 3-3 overall and 1-3 in the region.
[VIDEO: Game highlights, post-game reaction from Coach Floyd and Junior linebacker Bailey McElwain]
Oak Mountain accounted for 289 rushing yards on 51 carries, a 5.67 yards-per-carry average. The Eagles totaled 27 first downs.
Hewitt-Trussville defenders try to block a kick against Oak Mountain on Friday.
photo by Ron Burkett
“They did a great job,” said Hewitt-Trussville first-year head coach Josh Floyd. “It’s a tough offense to stop.”
Oak Mountain, known for its tough running game, also made plays in the passing game. Warren Shader completed 10-of-11 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns. Nine of those completions for 166 yards came in the first half.
Hewitt-Trussville junior linebacker Bailey McElwain said coaches prepared the defense for Oak Mountain’s multiple offense during the week.
“It’s on us,” he said. “It’s not coaching. It’s on us.”
The game started fast for Hewitt-Trussville. Jarett Nelson completed a 71-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Meadows on an end-around on the game’s first play from scrimmage, giving the Huskies a quick 7-0 lead. Oak Mountain responded when David Garver kicked a 22-yard field goal four minutes into the game.
Hewitt-Trussville junior running back Jarrion Street lost a fumble on the next possession, eventually leading to a three-yard scoring run by Oak Mountain’s Harold Shader. With Oak Mountain leading 10-7, Hewitt-Trussville senior kicker T.J. McGettigan booted a 38-yard field goal to tie the game at the end of the first quarter.
Warren Shader connected with Evan Benison early in the second quarter for a 38-yard touchdown. Hewitt-Trussville junior quarterback Zac Thomas responded three minutes later, taking it in from five yards out and knotting the game at 17.
Hewitt-Trussville junior quarterback Zac Thomas rushes for a touchdown against Oak Mountain.
photo by Ron Burkett
The Eagles then took a 24-17 lead when Warren Shader found Reid Golson for a 31-yard strike with 5:39 left until halftime. The ensuing Huskies’ drive stalled, and Oak Mountain took a 31-17 advantage into the locker room when Warren Shader plunged forward from one yard out.
Daniel Salchert pushed the Eagles’ lead to 38-17 early in the third quarter when he burst up the middle for a 48-yard TD. Hewitt-Trussville responded with a 12-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown pass from Thomas to Grayson Cash.
Oak Mountain again answered right back, going 80 yards in 13 plays, capped by a four-yard run by Harold Shader. Oak Mountain led 45-24 with 11:13 to play.
Street scored on a 29-yard run for Hewitt-Trussville with 8:19 left, cutting the deficit to 45-31. Oak Mountain bled nearly six minutes off the clock before a Harold Shader fumble was recovered by Nelson at Hewitt-Trussville’s own 3-yard line. Thomas passed for 72 yards on the ensuing drive, highlighted by a five-yard TD to Street, making it a 45-38 game with 1:03 left. The onside kick was recovered by Oak Mountain.
Oak Mountain’s offensive line paved the way, using a diving technique to cut down Hewitt-Trussville defenders.
“They were pretty aggressive,” McElwain said.
For Oak Mountain, Harold Shader rushed 25 times for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Salchert added 101 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Warren Shader chipped in with 64 yards on 11 carries.
For Hewitt-Trussville, Thomas completed 17-of-23 passes for 160 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He rushed 19 times for 96 yards and a score. Street rushed 11 times for 75 yards and a touchdown, and caught three passes for eight yards and a score. Meadows had five catches for 98 yards and a TD, all in the first half. Cash caught three passes for 47 yards and a touchdown. Senior Cyle Moore had a combined 118 rushing and receiving yards.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
