HANCEVILLE – J.B. Pennington running back Trey Griffin took matters into his own hands in the fourth quarter when the Hanceville Bulldogs were on a comeback attempt in this 3A, Region 6 battle at Ray Talley Stadium.
Griffin racked up 110 yards rushing on 11 carries in the final period, setting up two touchdowns to help his Tigers escape Hanceville with a 44-30 victory to remain undefeated after five games on the 2016 regular season.
His ground game for the evening produced 290 yards on 33 carries and three touchdowns. In the fourth quarter, he had five carries for double figures in setting up scores for his teammates, a 23-yard run by Travis Haynes and an 8-yard TD pass to tight end Tucker Hepinstall that clinched the victory.
J.B. Pennington is 3-0 in Region 6, tied for first with Fultondale who is 2-0 after a 55-14 win at home against Vinemont. Hanceville fell to 1-2 in the region and 2-3 overall with the loss. Locust Fork moved into third place in the regional standings after defeating Susan Moore Friday 22-7.
Hanceville had a tough first half, allowing Pennington to score on its first four possessions and lead 28-6 at halftime. The only bright spot in the first half for the Bulldogs was a 77-yard run by B.J. Smalls the first time they had possession. That came with 9:30 to go in the first quarter, and they trailed 7-6 when the extra point try by Luke Duffie was blocked.
Griffin scored the first two TDs for the Tigers, and a touchdown from a yard out by Jalon Bullard had the visitors ahead 21-6 after the opening period. Griffin ran for 114 yards in the first quarter on 13 carries.
Hanceville had four possessions in the second quarter that resulted in a muffed punt attempt, two punts and the final play of the half no gain by Smalls. The Bulldogs were outgained by the Tigers 249 to 136 at the break.
But in the second half, Hanceville was a different team. They took the second-half kickoff and marched 65 yards, getting the score on a 3-yard run by Romeal Simmons and a 2-point pass from Brenan Hurst to Kaine Yates. The Bulldogs were down 28-14 with 6:45 to play in the quarter.
Hanceville allowed Pennington 23 yards and zero first downs in the third. The Bulldogs took over from the Tigers' 41 late in the period and carried the drive into the fourth on a yard run by Yates and a 2-point conversion from Hurst. Hanceville trailed 28-22 and had momentum with 9:20 remaining in the game.
However, the Tigers struck back with good field position and used the legs of Griffin to get them downfield on a 65-yard series. He caught Hanceville off balance when Haynes had his first carry of the game. This was good for a touchdown and the run for two points by Griffin extended the Tiger lead to 36-22.
Hanceville had the ball for one play. The Bulldogs struck for pay dirt on a 63-yard pass from Hurst to Yates who outran the secondary to the end zone. Hurst then bulled in for the conversion and the Bulldogs were down by one score, 36-30, with 6:28 to go in this hotly contested regional game.
Once again, Pennington used a good kick-off return to give them field position with Griffin the anchor of the offensive attack. From the 46, the Tigers moved it downfield and took 4:00 off the clock.
Cleveland crossed the Bulldogs with a pass to Hepinstall who was wide open in the end zone. Griffin took a pass from Cleveland for the conversion with Pennington ahead 44-30 and only 2:52 to go.
The Bulldogs failed to move it, turning it over at the Hanceville 30. A 28-yard run by Griffin put the ball at the two, then a holding penalty backed them outside the 10-yard line. The Tigers were content running out the clock, heading back to Blountsville with its best start on the gridiron in 22 years.
Smalls rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown, Hurst threw for 147 yards and a score, 119 during the second half. Yates caught a TD and scored on his lone run in the fourth quarter from the one.
Hanceville gained 168 yards and had seven first downs in the final half, but only rushed for 13 in the fourth quarter to 141 by the Tigers with 110 coming from Griffin.
Pennington accounted for 424 total yards, 20 first downs, 328 on the ground.
Craig Flanigan's Bulldogs will look to bounce back next week in their third straight game at Talley Stadium. The Clements Colts come from Limestone County to play the Bulldogs for the first time ever. The game will be Friday at 7 p.m.
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