HARTSELLE, Ala. – For the first time since 1997, the Cullman Bearcats left Hartselle with a victory Friday night. The series between the Bearcats and Tigers has always been competitive, but Hartselle has dominated on its home field for more than 20 years, until tonight. The ‘Cats were on top 23-0 at one point in the fourth quarter and despite some late scoring by the Tigers, the lead was too much to overcome and Cullman held on to win it 30-20 and improve to 3-0 on the season.
After both teams opened the game with back-to-back punts and a scoreless first quarter, the Bearcats got on the board first thanks to a 37-yard field goal by Brody Adams that made it 3-0 early in the second. Cullman found the end zone for the first time on its next possession when Jaylen Hughey carried a handful of Hartselle defenders across the goal line from 5 yards out. The extra point was blocked, and the Bearcats moved ahead 9-0 midway through the period.
Cullman’s defense continued to smother the opposition like it has the first two weeks of the season and got the ball back in the hands of the offense with just over three minutes to play in the half. The ‘Cats drove the ball down into Tiger territory and used a little creativity to get on the board just before the break. Quarterback Max Dueland tossed the ball out to Hughey and the standout tailback pulled up and hit wide out Nic Glass in the left corner of the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown with 37 seconds on the clock to put Cullman on top 16-0 going into the half. The Bearcats racked up more than 120 yards on the ground in the first half while holding the Tigers to -3 yards in the first two quarters.
The ‘Cats continued to add to their lead after a mostly scoreless third quarter. Hughey punched another one in on the ground, this time from 2 yards out, to make it a 23-0 game with two minutes to play in the third. The Tigers were able to chip away at the lead in the final frame, connecting on touchdown passes of 33 and 25 yards as well as punching one in on the ground to cut the lead to 10 at one point, but it was too little, too late, and Hughey’s final touchdown of the night sealed the deal for the Bearcats. Cullman improved to 3-0 on the season with the 30-20 win.
Hughey racked up 157 yards and three touchdowns on the ground and added a touchdown pass to his night. Noah Kee and Jake Dueland each added 39 and 33 yards rushing in the win respectively.
Bearcats Head Coach Oscar Glasscock said his team was focused on itself and not the opponent this week and he credits that mindset for Cullman’s performance tonight.
“We don’t define ourselves around here by who we’re playing. It’s always going to be about who we are not who we play, and I think that was really the difference tonight,” Glasscock said. “We didn’t get caught up in the emotions of the rivalry. I loved how we held our composure in the second half especially. It’s a lot more difficult than people realize when you seem to have a comfortable lead and be in control of the game to maintain your composure when the momentum switches and focus on the task at hand. It’s not going to be easy and we’re not going to get a shutout every week, but the bottom line is, we won the football game.”
Hughey carried the ball 31 times for Cullman in the win, many of which came late in the game to put the Tigers away. Glasscock was proud of the way Hughey finished the game and said he wants that style of play to define his team.
“I think he just kind of symbolizes the growth of the program since I’ve been here. He’s a work in progress just like I am, and we have some good days and some bad days, but when the lights come on that guy is a warrior,” Glasscock said. “I’m super proud of him, and he’s got a free education waiting on him. I think he just personifies our team as far as being a grinder. He didn’t get flashy yards tonight; he got hard-earned yards tonight, and that’s the kind of team we want to be around here.”
The Bearcats will return home next week to take on Buckhorn.
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