PREP FOOTBALL: Bearcats put up 3 TDs before Athens takes 1 offensive snap, win 28-7

Published 12:55 am Saturday, October 4, 2014

On paper, it appeared Cullman might have its hands full on homecoming against Athens. But on the field Friday night, it was a complete and utter mismatch, as the Bearcats scored three touchdowns before the Golden Eagles even took a single offensive snap to coast to a 28-7 triumph.

Offense. Defense. Special teams. Cullman (4-2, 2-1) did it better than Athens (2-5, 1-3) in every category, quickly turning what was expected to be a close Class 6A, Region 8 contest into sort of a snoozer that was A-OK with the ’Cats and their faithful fanbase.

“We came out here with a great gameplan on offense, and our defense has been working hard all week long,” said senior Will Crenshaw, who ran for 91 yards and two touchdowns on 31 tough carries. “We just executed on all sides of the ball.”

Cullman’s early offensive execution — and Athens’ inexplicable inability to field a kickoff — made for one of, if not the craziest starts in the longstanding rivalry.

Following a 16-play, 83-yard drive that chewed 7:03 off the clock and ended with Crenshaw barreling in from 2 yards out, Matthew Bell put just the right touch on a shallow kickoff that was kicked around by the Golden Eagles’ return man. Michael Al-Dijaili recovered the loose ball at the Athens 27, and the Bearcats cashed in only 18 seconds later on a 21-yard scoring strike from Ross Crocker to Dawson Drake.

Just for kicks, Bell booted another sky kick that the Golden Eagles again couldn’t get their hands on. This time, a different Athens’ returner let the ball get away, allowing Sam Calligaris to pounce on it at the Golden Eagles 32. Six plays later, Cullman turned another turnover into six points with a 3-yard scoring scamper from Crenshaw.

By the time Athens finally settled in for its first offensive snap with 2:49 remaining in the first quarter, the ’Cats were already up 21-0 and well on their way to the homecoming victory.

“I was shocked. I’ve never started out a football game that way my entire life,” Calligaris said. “I wanted to be on the field and so did the rest of my defense, but it was fun.”

The few times Cullman’s defense was on the field in the first half, it was sheer domination.

The Golden Eagles only mustered 27 yards before halftime and never really sniffed midfield. Garret Cornelius corralled a sack, Ethan McMinn broke up a pass, Brontae Harris upended an offender for a 5-yard loss, Connor Moon was in on tons of tackles and Justin Patterson simply couldn’t be contained during the decisive stretch.

The lights-out display on D — not to mention Athens’ special teams gaffes — gave Cullman’s offense a short field to work with on several occasions. The Bearcats started five of their seven first-half drives and six overall in Golden Eagles territory.

The fifth instance in the first half put Cullman in position to tack on its final points of the evening. Crocker perfectly placed a 45-yard Hail Mary to Owen Lovell in a sea of three defenders as time expired to send the ’Cats into the locker room with swagger and an untouchable 28-0 advantage.

Aside from one bad play — Athens’ John Bachus and Terrance Watkins hooked up for an 88-yard touchdown connection right out of the break — Cullman’s defense didn’t let up in the slightest. McMinn snagged a late interception, and Harris, Patterson, Moon, Chase Slocumb and Blake Purifoy were among the Bearcats’ many defensive stalwarts the rest of the way out.

“This whole year, we’ve just prided ourselves on being physical,” Calligaris said of the D. “And that’s what we did.”

Crocker was spectacular in his latest sophomore start, completing 19 of 26 passes for 265 yards and the two touchdowns. Donaldson was a trusty target with nine catches for 133 yards, as was Lovell, who churned out 80 yards and the score on two receptions. Drake was good for six catches, 32 yards and the touchdown.

Harris complemented Crenshaw’s effective rushing attack with 22 yards on four carries on Cullman’s second-to-last possession.

“I really feel like our kids are maturing, especially on our offense,” Bearcats coach Mark Britton said. “It’s Game 6 in a tough region. You’ve got to make improvements, and I think our kids so far have done that.”

Cullman can breathe easier for a week as far as playoff positioning is concerned but must immediately turn its attention to the program’s most important opponent — Hartselle. The Tigers lost a double-overtime thriller to Muscle Shoals Friday to fall to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in region play.

The Bearcats stunned their heated rival 14-6 in last year’s showdown but haven’t beat Hartselle on the road since a 24-21 knee-knocker in 1997.

“Oh, we’re ready,” Crenshaw said. “Hartselle Week is always one of the biggest weeks here. We’re going to get a gameplan together, we’re going to go out there and execute it, and we’re going to win.”