CULLMAN – Of the 10 teams The Cullman Tribune/Cullman Sense covers on a regular basis in high school football, only two were able to win on opening night of regional games in the Alabama High School Athletic Association.
The quest to make a run toward the playoffs by doing well in their respective regions didn't turn out the way each that suffered a loss on Friday night was hoping.
What makes it very painful for two teams, is they had a least a six-point lead in the fourth quarter.
But the Vinemont Eagles and Holly Pond Broncos could not hold on to the advantage in their home openers, losing the regional openers to a pair of schools from Blount County.
Most think that Locust Fork's 35-20 victory at Vinemont was controlled by the Hornets. The answer is no. Vinemont was in the game until Locust Fork got a TD with 3:53 to play to go up 28-20 and added another score after they stopped the Eagles on fourth and 32 with the drive beginning inside the Vinemont 20-yard line.
Holly Pond was ahead 26-20 over J.B. Pennington when the final stanza got started at Thomas-Michelfelder Field. The Tigers produced two touchdowns in the final period and pulled it out, ending the Broncos' three-game winning streak by the final of 34-32.
While these two took hard defeats, the West Point Warriors and Meek Tigers lost close encounters. West Point fell 14-6 at Hayden in 5A, Region 6 with Meek coming up on the short end of a 13-6 decision to rival Lynn in 1A, Region 7.
Cullman lost 44-21 to Albertville, Good Hope was shut out 20-0 by Fayette County, Fairview fell to Corner 36-6 and Hanceville got defeated by Fultondale 59-8, all of these losses coming on the road.
Only the Cold Springs Eagles and the Addison Bulldogs opened their respective regions with victories and share the top of the leaderboard with others going into next week.
Cold Springs rallied from a 14-8 halftime deficit to edge Tarrant 21-14 and go 1-0 in 2A, Region 7.
Tenth-ranked Addison ran roughshod over Southeastern from Blount County by the final score of 60-16 at A.G. Hicks Stadium. This was the 1A, Region 7 opener for the Bulldogs who are averaging 44.6 points a game on the young season.
The West Point loss was made worse when quarterback Rylan Jones went down with a season-ending arm injury and was taken to a Birmingham hospital via ambulance. The sophomore signal-caller had to have surgery to repair a compound fracture to his arm, which happened while trying to pick up a first down on a running play.
One loss does not make an entire season in regards to getting to the playoffs. The average is for a team to win at least four games if they play a seven-game regional schedule or to go 3-3 if they are in a six-team region, which all schools from Cullman County are for this year.
But looking ahead to next week, some games will be critical for our local ball clubs.
Cullman has No. 5 and undefeated Oxford visiting Woodard Stadium for the home opener in 6A, Region 7. Oxford clobbered Brewer 44-19 Friday with a 44-0 lead after the half. The starters spent much of the second half watching on the sidelines.
The winner of the Vinemont-Hanceville game stays in the race with the loser to have to overcome an 0-2 start. These county and 3A, Region 6 rivals square off Friday at Ray Talley Stadium.
Seeing their winning streak ended by a Blount County team, Holly Pond goes into the neighboring county next week to Susan Moore. It will be the 3A, Region 6 opener for the Bulldogs, who were odd man out for this week. Susan Moore lost 30-29 to Winston County in non-regional play.
Good Hope can regain some confidence despite the shutout loss at Fayette County. The Raiders' next foe in 4A, Region 6, Hamilton, was blasted 38-0 Friday by Haleyville. The Aggies invade James Shabel Stadium next weekend.
West Point has Springville coming to West Point Stadium with both 0-1 in 5A, Region 6. The Tigers got drilled by Mortimer Jordan 33-0 with the Warriors falling by a TD to Hayden.
Undefeated Addison deals with undefeated Sumiton Christian down in Walker County. The Eagles romped over R.A. Hubbard 60-22 Friday night, the same time Addison leveled Southeastern 60-16.
Sumiton scored an average of 57 points a game in its two wins, with Addison allowing just 12 points through three assignments in 2016.
Meek will try to stop a two-game slump vs. a very good Decatur Heritage team in 1A, Region 7 play next week in Morgan County. The Eagles were a semifinalist last season and are coming off a hard fought 14-7 win over Hackleburg.
Meek needs to find a way to come out on top or go down 0-2 in the region with Addison and Sumiton Christian waiting to get the Tigers later in the season.
All games will kick off next Friday at 7 p.m.
Copyright 2016 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
