VINEMONT – It was a regional showdown in Vinemont Friday night, with the Eagles hosting the Hanceville Bulldogs. Vinemont eked out the win, 21-20.
Vinemont won the toss and took the ball on its own 40-yard line. The Eagles went three-and-out. Hanceville answered by putting together a drive, but ended up having to punt.
Vinemont took control of the ball on the 32. After another three-and-out, Hanceville got the ball on its 42, but a bad snap to Alex Campbell resulted in a loss of 15 yards, and the Bulldogs were forced to punt again.
Next up, Vinemont took advantage of good field position, putting together a 47-yard drive, capped off with an 11-yard touchdown run by Carl Price. After one quarter, it was Vinemont-7, Hanceville-0.
Later, on a muffed snap to the punter, Cameron Carter picked up the ball and ran for a gain of 22 yards and a first down, but Vinemont failed to score. Hanceville took over with the ball on the 30-yard line. The Bulldogs engineered a 70-yard drive that ended with Romael Simmons taking it 3-yards for the TD, and the score was 7-6 after a missed PAT.
The Eagles go the ball and Carter passed to Ethan Burson for a 38-yard gain setting up the first down at the 11-yard line. Price rushed for 6-yards and the score, and the Eagles were up 14-6 with 1:28 to go in the second.
A good kick-off return by R.J. Evans set the Bulldogs up with great field position, and three plays later Campbell ran 12-yards for a touchdown with 16 seconds remaining until halftime. A failed 2-point two-point made the score 14-12.
Hanceville got the ball to start the third, putting together a long drive, with Evans again scoring. This time he rushed 43-yards for the TD. A good 2-point conversion made the score 20-14 in favor of the Bulldogs.
After a back-and-forth, Vinemont’s Carter threw an interception, which was picked off by Hanceville’s Alex Chacon at the 11-yard line.
The Bulldogs failed to capitalize, though, and after more back-and-forth action, the third quarter came to an end with the score unchanged.
It was all defense in the fourth, with each team forced to punt twice. The Eagles went for it on fourth down and came up short, handing the ball over to the Eagles on the 25. Hanceville moved the ball, and the clock was ticking down. With 1:38 left to go, the Eagles got the ball back at their 17.
Vinemont put together an effective drive, and with time running out, Jack Hill passed to Teague Whatley for a 61-yard gain, setting up first down at the 15.
Two plays later, Hill passed to Dustin Moore for 15 yards and the go-ahead touchdown. The extra point was good, and the Eagles were up by one with :35 left in the game.
The Bulldogs didn’t give in, charging down the field. They came up short, though, with the Eagles claiming victory.
Vinemont coach Stephen Robinson commented that the game was a good one, no matter the school's record. He said he pleased with how his team played, especially since practices were cut short due to the weather. Robinson said he was especially proud of sophomore Jack Hill and how he played under pressure at the end of the game.
Vinemont goes to 1 -2 and 1-1 in region play. Hanceville falls to 0-3 and 0-2 in region play.
Vinemont will host Fultondale next week and Hanceville will travel to J.B. Pennington.
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