ADDISON, Ala. – Addison hosted the 4A Good Hope Raiders at lovely A.G. Hicks Stadium and the game didn’t disappoint anyone in the packed house. Addison won in overtime 30-28 in a game of two halves.
The first quarter ended with no score as both teams moved the ball, but neither could score as the drives would be stopped on downs or a turnover. Good Hope had a Tucker Malin, will Good Hope ever run out of Malins, 72-yard punt return for a touchdown called back on a penalty. The second quarter was a different matter as the visiting Raiders dominated the Bulldogs. Good Hopes Tyler Cone picked off an Addison pass to set the Raiders up near midfield. Good Hope pounded the ball, gashing the Bulldogs up the middle as they ran seven plays for 51 yards culminating in a Kaleb “KJ” Jones 14-yard untouched touchdown run. The big play on the drive was a 23-yard pass completion from QB Kolten Whatley to Cone for 23 yards and a first down on a fourth and 6 play. The extra point by Eli Clements was good and at the 5:58 mark of the second quarter, Good Hope led 7-0.
After forcing a Bulldog punt, the Raiders took over at the Dawg 37-yard line. The Dawg defense stood tall and forced the Raiders into a fourth and 10 decision from the Dawg 20-yard line. Good Hope didn’t hesitate and once again, Whatley found Cone with a beautiful 20-yard touchdown grab. Cone went up and over the Bulldog defender, who had excellent coverage, to snag the touchdown pass. Clements made the extra point and with less than two minutes left in the half Good Hope was up 14-0.
Addison drove down to the Raider 37-yard line, but the drive was snuffed out as Houston Walton sacked the Addison QB and the half ended with the Raiders holding a dominating 14-0 lead.
Addison Head Man David Smothers apparently challenged his team in the locker room because this was a totally different team than played in the first half. Addison forced a Raider punt, and the Dawgs took over at their own 42-yard line. Addison then started running the football. The Dawg Big Uglies up front started opening up holes that weren’t there in the first half appeared in the second. Addison went nine plays for 58 yards for the score. Briley “Snake” Hayes ran it in from four yards out and the two-point attempt was no good. At the 5:36 mark of the third quarter, Addison had cut the Good Hope lead to 14-6.
The Raiders then turned to their own ground game and drove down to the Bulldog 42-yard line. The Raiders decided to go for it on fourth and 2 and that is when Isaiah “Stump” Treece met the Raider back in the backfield stopping the drive.
After an exchange of possessions, Addison took over at the Good Hope 41-yard line. Addison got to the Raider 28, and they were facing a huge third and 9 when Hayes found Jed “Wizard” Wilkins for a 13-yard pass completion for a first down. Two plays later, Jacob “Flash” Hardin took it in for the score from 1-yard out. Hayes then found Wilkins in the corner of the endzone for the two-point conversion and the game was tied at 14 with 6:28 to go in the game.
The Dawg Pound Defense stiffened and forced a Raider punt. The Raider punt was well placed and pinned the Dawgs back on their own 10-yard line. After gaining a first down, Addison had the ball at their own 26-yard line. Hayes rolled to his right and fired a long pass to Hayden “Big Play” Holland. Good Hope had two defenders that had good coverage on Holland but after one of the Raiders tipped the ball up, Holland batted it up again and then caught the rebound and rambled in for a 74-yard touchdown catch. Hayes ran in the two-point conversion and Addison had a 22-14 lead with only 1:13 seconds remaining in the game.
With the hometown crowd going nuts, little time left on the clock and the defense fired up the game should be over, right? Well, someone forgot to tell the young men from Good Hope that. Whatley calmly led his Raider teammates out on the field and an amazing drive started. From their own 43-yard line, Whatley moved the Raiders down the field. He found Cone for 15 yards. Whatley then hit K’Mel Bell for 12 more. Addison’s Bradley “Big Foot” Willette batted down two passes on the drive and the Raiders were facing a third and 10 from the Dawg 30-yard line. Whatley then found Jones for 12 and a first down. Another 16-yard pass on a roll out to Cone, who made a diving grab down to the Bulldog 2.
After being stuffed for a loss of one yard, Good Hope had five seconds left in the game and was facing their last-ditch effort to tie from the Bulldog 3-yard line. Whatley calmly dropped back and threw a beautiful fade to Mr. Bell who made an excellent over the shoulder catch for the touchdown with no time left on the clock. The Whatley to Bell combo worked again as the two-point play was good and the game was headed into overtime tied at 22.
Good Hope had the ball first in overtime and in case you don’t know, each team gets the ball with a first and goal from their opponents 10-yard line. The Addison Defense was inspired and stopped the Raiders on their first three plays. Good Hope was facing a fourth and goal from the Bulldog 6-yard line. Whatley then hit Cone for the touchdown as the Raiders had performed in the clutch again. The extra point was no good so Good Hope led 28-22.
Addison took over from the Raider 10-yard line. Addison gained five yards on two running plays and was facing a third and Goal from the Raider 5. Hayes dropped back and threw a quick out pass to Malaki Blakely who went down and caught the ball just over the end line for the tying touchdown. Addison then lined up for the extra point. The snap came back to Hayes who picked the ball up and ran it in for the winning two-point conversion. the fake worked and Addison won a thriller 30-28.
It was a tremendous game with great crowd participation and the young men left everything they had on the field. You hate to see one team lose a game like this.
Addison will travel for a big regional matchup against Meek next week while Good Hope returns home to host Hanceville.
Unofficial stats:
Addison ran 38 rushing plays for 130 yards. Addison had 20 pass plays for 158 yards. Addison had 58 total plays for 288 total yards. Good Hope had 41 rushing plays for 167 yards. Good Hope had 23 passing plays for 134 yards. Good Hope had 64 total plays for 301 total yards.
Addison’s Hayes went nine completions out of 13 attempts for 147 yards. Hayes had two touchdowns and an interception.
Addison’s Hayes went 17 carries for 93 yards and a touchdown. Hardin had 11 carries for 20 yards. Blakley had two carries for seven yards.
Addison’s Holland had three catches for 79 yards and a touchdown. Wilkins had four catches for 47 yards. Blakely had one catch for five yards and a touchdown.
Addison’s defense was led by Briley “Hit Man” Holt with eight tackles. Holland had seven tackles. Hardin had six tackles. Jordan “The Hammer” Hubbert, Treece, Caleb Vintson and Hayes all had four tackles.
Josh “West Coast” Netherton had a pick and Willette had two batted down passes.
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