Cat Fight! Thomasville Defeats Hale County To Remain Undefeated
The Thomasville Tigers (7-0, 4-0) traveled to Moundville, Alabama on a special Thursday night football game to take on the Hale County Wildcats (6-3, 2-3). The Tigers came up with a huge win to remain undefeated with a final score of 45-20.
The Tigers were focused on running the ball throughout the game and it showed. The rushing attack was led by running back Quez Jackson who ran 18 times for 144 yards and two touchdowns. In addition, running backs CJ Holt and Darrian Grissom ran for two touchdowns as well each. In total, the run game for the Tigers combined for 272 of the 347 total yards.
Thomasville Tigers head coach Jack Hankins was asked after the game if the run game was a part of the plan.
"Tonight because of the quarantine, we had to start our a freshman who did a really great job," Hankins said. "We wanted to take the pressure off of him and place it on our senior running backs and offensive line, and we did that really well tonight. The run game was the plan this week and we were able to execute that plan and win the game."
Hale County began the game down by 14 points until a 99-yard kick-off return for a touchdown from kick returner Donovan Dickers. That was not the only big play of the game for the Wildcats. Running back and Linebacker Xavier Carlisle stripped the ball on the 1-yard line and ran it all the way back to the house another 99 yards.
Outside of the big plays, the Wildcats were unable to get the offense going. Quarterback Matthew Swartz finished the game 15-for-23 but was unable to get the ball into the endzone and threw two interceptions late in the 4th quarter.
Hale County head coach Matt Hastings was asked what the message was in the locker room after this tough defeat tonight.
"Focus," Hastings said. "The message is the same as it has been all year. We aren't focused enough and it really hurt us in situations like tonight. We have to have a good week and come back and focus on next week and getting the win."
Hale County will look to bounce back next week as they travel to Greensboro to take on the Greensboro Raiders.
Thomasville will travel to play Montgomery Academy next week in a big-time region matchup as both teams are undefeated.
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