Super 6: Hartselle wins 5A crown

Hartselle’s Tigers scored 10 points in less than a minute span late in the fourth quarter to edge past Vigor 13-3 Thursday night and claim the school’s first ever AHSAA Class 5A state football championship in its 95-year history.

Hartselle (15-0) trailed 3-0 at intermission, thanks to a 28-yard Marlon Moore field goal that put the Wolves (12-3) from Prichard ahead with five seconds left in the half.

Hartselle tied the game with 6:45 left in the third period when Gavin Marsh booted a 38-yard field goal. He then narrowly missed a 47-yard try with 13 seconds left in the period.

Quarterback Deacon Aldridge, named the MVP after rushing for 67 clutch yards on 21 carries and completing five-of-seven passes for another 25 yards, moved the Tigers back into field-goal range late in the game, and Marsh delivered with his second 47-yard try of the night to put Coach Bob Godsey’s Tigers on top for good 6-3.

Aldridge injured his ankle and knee in the first quarter, but played the last three quarters despite the pain to lead his team to the win.

Hartselle’s defense, which limited Vigor to 57 yards rushing on the night, got the ball back at the Wolves’ 12-yard line less than 40 seconds later, and Blake Slayton sealed the win with a 12-yard run on second down to close out the scoring.

Marsh, who was nine-of-10 on field goal tries in the state playoffs, also had a last-second, game-winning field goal to beat Pinson Valley 22-21 in round two of the playoffs and booted three field goals in a 16-14 win over Briarwood in the semifinals.

Slayton finished as the game’s leading rusher with 79 yards on 18 carries. Hartselle finished with 176 yards on 51 tries and kept the ball for 29:38. Vigor had the ball for only 18:22.

Devon Adams completed 10-of-24 passes for 135 yards for Coach Kerry Stevenson’s Wolves. Moore caught four passes for 37 yards and Keontae McCants had three catches for 55 yards.

Darius Philon led Vigor’s defense, which allowed only 116 points in 15 games, with 10 tackles. He also recovered a fumble.

Deshawn Davis, Thomas Lewis and Jamichael Winston each had nine tackles, and Christopher Taylor had eight tackles, including three for losses of 11 yards.

Jordan Orr had eight tackles and Casey Goodwin had seven to pace the Tigers defense. Hartselle outscored opponents 508-139 on the season.