CULLMAN, Ala. – Vinemont and Good Hope secured postseason berths Friday, Oct. 23, while Addison completed an unbeaten regular season and captured a region championship during a night that settled several local playoff positions.
Cold Springs and Meek, both already assured of postseason appearances, closed their region schedules with victories.
Fairview was eliminated during its open week, while Cullman, West Point, Holly Pond and Hanceville entered Friday already out of contention.
Addison was the only team among the Tribune’s 10 area football programs ranked in the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s top 10 entering Friday.
The Bulldogs were No. 2 in Class 1A, while Cold Springs received five votes outside the Class 2A top 10. Rankings throughout this wrap-up reflect the Oct. 21 poll.
No. 2 Addison 33, No. 7 Hackleburg 7
Addison scored 33 unanswered points and intercepted four passes to defeat previously unbeaten Hackleburg, completing a 10-0 regular season and securing the Class 1A, Region 7 championship.
The Bulldogs finished 7-0 in region play and earned the No. 1 playoff seed. Hackleburg fell to 8-1 overall and 6-1 in the region, finishing second.
Hackleburg took a 7-0 lead on Timothy Stewart’s 8-yard touchdown run before Elijah Roberts connected with Judah Wilkins for a 21-yard score. Wilkins added a 6-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, helping Addison take a 14-7 halftime lead.
Roberts found Zane Smith for a 13-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Smith later scored on a 6-yard run, and Roberts completed the scoring with a 1-yard keeper.
Roberts accounted for three touchdowns, while Wilkins and Smith each scored once rushing and once receiving. Addison held Hackleburg scoreless over the final three quarters.
The Bulldogs are open Oct. 30 and will begin the playoffs at home Nov. 6.
Vinemont 12, Susan Moore 7
Josh Rhodes connected with Travis Speer for a 19-yard touchdown on fourth down with 4:17 remaining, lifting Vinemont to a senior night victory and its seventh consecutive playoff berth.
The Eagles finished the regular season 6-4 overall and 4-3 in Class 3A, Region 6. Their victory, coupled with Hokes Bluff’s 14-7 win over Glencoe, secured the region’s fourth playoff position.
Rhodes scored on a 65-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. Susan Moore answered with a touchdown pass with 2:19 remaining before halftime, taking a 7-6 lead.
Speer intercepted a fourth-down pass in the end zone late in the third quarter after Susan Moore reached first-and-goal inside the Vinemont 5.
Following the go-ahead touchdown, Will Conquest recovered a muffed kickoff. An Eagles fumble gave Susan Moore another opportunity, but Brennan Marlow intercepted a pass to end the threat.
Vinemont is open Oct. 30 before traveling to Region 7 champion Central-Florence for the first round Nov. 6.
Good Hope 42, Hayden 7
Good Hope answered Hayden’s opening touchdown with 42 unanswered points, securing a playoff berth and improving to 7-2 overall and 6-1 in Class 4A, Region 8.
Karson Hollis rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. Parker Johnson added 64 rushing yards and two scores while throwing touchdown passes of 24 yards to Ayden Young and 31 yards to Kayden Collins.
Johnson’s 1-yard touchdown run helped tie the game before his scoring pass to Young put the Raiders ahead 14-7.
Collins blocked a punt and recovered it at Hayden’s 13, setting up Hollis’ 5-yard touchdown run. Johnson added a 39-yard scoring run and the touchdown pass to Collins, building a 35-7 halftime lead. Hollis completed the scoring with a 54-yard run early in the third quarter.
Ross Clark recorded two sacks. Collins and Chance Brock each added one, and Young intercepted a pass.
The Raiders remain in contention for a home playoff opener and visit Class 4A No. 2 Scottsboro at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30.
Cold Springs 56, Carbon Hill 6
Cold Springs earned its third consecutive victory, improving to 8-1 overall and completing its Class 2A, Region 5 schedule at 6-1.
The Eagles had already secured second place and a home playoff opener before Friday’s game.
Eli Voce scored on Cold Springs’ opening possession. The Eagles recovered an onside kick and added another touchdown on a catch by Brandon Chasteen.
Defensive lineman Lathan Shuford returned a fumble for a touchdown on Carbon Hill’s first possession, and Chasteen scored again during the second quarter.
Cooper Johnson and Voce added third-quarter touchdowns. Carbon Hill scored its only points in the fourth, and Blake Phillips also scored for Cold Springs.
The Eagles will host Tanner at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, before opening the playoffs at home Nov. 6.
Meek 30, Red Bay 22
Meek secured the No. 3 playoff seed in Class 1A, Region 7 with its fourth consecutive victory.
Both teams had qualified before kickoff, leaving Friday’s game to determine third and fourth place. Meek improved to 6-3 overall and finished 5-2 in region play. Red Bay fell to 7-3 and 4-3.
The Tigers built a 16-0 first-quarter lead. Red Bay scored 14 points during the second quarter, but Meek added six and carried a 22-14 advantage into halftime.
Neither team scored in the third quarter. Both added eight points in the fourth, producing the final margin.
Meek remained unbeaten at home this season and will close the regular season at Berry at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. The Tigers will travel for the first round of the playoffs Nov. 6.
Fairview eliminated during open week
Fairview did not play Friday, but Guntersville’s 37-6 victory over Brewer closed the Aggies’ remaining playoff path in Class 4A, Region 8.
Guntersville completed region play at 5-3. Fairview, which is 5-3 overall and 4-3 in the region, can match that region record with a victory at Cherokee County.
However, Guntersville holds the head-to-head advantage after defeating the Aggies 7-3 on Sept. 11.
Under the AHSAA’s two-team tiebreaking rule, that result places Guntersville ahead of Fairview if both finish 5-3.
With Scottsboro, Good Hope and Cherokee County already beyond Fairview’s maximum of five region victories, the Aggies cannot reach the top four.
Fairview will close its season at Cherokee County at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30.
Cullman 42, Jackson-Olin 13
Cullman snapped a five-game losing streak, earned its first road victory of the season and recorded its highest point total of the year in Birmingham.
The Bearcats improved to 3-6 overall and completed Class 5A, Region 5 play at 2-5. Both teams had been eliminated before kickoff.
Jackson-Olin scored first, but Cullman answered before the opening quarter ended to tie the game at 7.
The Bearcats scored 14 unanswered second-quarter points to take a 21-7 halftime lead. Cullman added 14 points in the third quarter while Jackson-Olin scored six, leaving the Bearcats ahead 35-13 entering the fourth.
Cullman supplied the final quarter’s only touchdown to complete the victory.
The Bearcats will visit West Morgan at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, in their regular-season finale.
No. 8 Deshler 55, West Point 14
West Point scored on touchdown passes on either side of halftime, but Deshler answered with four third-quarter touchdowns to complete an unbeaten Class 4A, Region 7 schedule.
The Warriors finished their season 0-10 overall and 0-7 in region play. They had been eliminated before Friday’s game.
Deshler built a 27-0 advantage before West Point scored late in the second quarter, cutting the halftime deficit to 27-7. Another touchdown pass and extra point brought the Warriors within 27-14 in the third.
Armani Jones answered with a rushing touchdown for Deshler. Kendrick Gunn returned an interception for another score, and the Tigers added a touchdown pass and a Carter Boyett rushing touchdown to establish the final margin.
Neither team scored in the fourth quarter.
Deshler improved to 8-1 overall and finished 7-0 in the region after entering Friday with the championship already secured.
Etowah 43, Holly Pond 12
Etowah scored 15 unanswered first-quarter points and pulled away after halftime in the teams’ Class 3A, Region 6 finale.
Holly Pond fell to 2-7 overall and finished region play at 1-6. The Broncos had been eliminated before Friday.
Etowah led 22-6 at halftime and added 14 unanswered points in the third quarter, extending its advantage to 36-6. Both teams scored in the fourth, with Etowah adding seven points and Holly Pond six.
The Blue Devils improved to 6-3 overall and finished 6-1 in the region.
Holly Pond will close its regular season at Falkville at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30.
No. 5 Oneonta 62, Hanceville 0
Oneonta scored 35 points in the first quarter and carried a 56-0 lead into halftime, defeating Hanceville at Ray Talley Stadium.
The third quarter was scoreless before the Redskins added six points in the fourth.
Hanceville fell to 0-9 overall and completed Class 3A, Region 6 play at 0-7. The Bulldogs had been eliminated from playoff contention before Friday’s game.
Oneonta improved to 9-1 overall and finished its region schedule unbeaten at 7-0.
Hanceville will close its regular season at Elkmont at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30.
Jared Spears, Sammy Confer and Ryan Guthery contributed reporting.
