PREP FOOTBALL: Cullman suffers 28-0 setback to arch-rival Hartselle

Published 1:07 am Saturday, October 11, 2014

HARTSELLE — Cullman’s curse at J.P. Cain Stadium is continuing another year.

For the ninth straight time since 1997, the Bearcats left Hartselle with a bitter taste in their mouths, the latest instance due to a 28-0 shutout at the hands of their biggest rival.

The Jackson twins wreaked havoc on both sides of the ball, Cullman gave up 14 points off four turnovers, and Taylor Easterling tallied triple digits and two rushing touchdowns to revive the Tigers’ playoff aspirations. They improved to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in Class 6A, Region 8 with games against Florence and Austin still on their region schedule.

Friday’s loss, which snapped a three-game win streak, left the ’Cats (4-3, 2-2) in a sticky situation regarding their chances for a 10th consecutive postseason berth. They’ll have to pull off at least one upset — and possibly both — over the next two weeks versus Decatur (5-2, 3-1) and Muscle Shoals (5-2, 3-2) to be one of the ruthless region’s last four teams standing.

Hartselle set the tone with a touchdown on its very first touch. Ja’mal Jackson avoided an initial wave of tacklers and returned a line drive punt 72 yards to serve as the go-ahead score only three minutes in.

Ja’mal’s same-aged sibling, Jaylan, sailed skyward for a pair of second-quarter picks. Easterling cashed in both for six points on respective 5- and 4-yard carries.

Down 21-0 and facing fourth-and-short at its own 29-yard line late in the third quarter, Cullman went to Will Crenshaw for the conversion. The senior tailback appeared to move the chains with a 2-yard tote, but the ball was spotted back at the 29 to bring the possession to a sudden halt.

The Tigers took advantage of the short field seven plays later, scoring for the last time on a wild 9-yard quarterback keeper by Jake Tiffin that started with a fumble on his throwing motion.

Cullman coach Mark Britton declined to comment on the costly turnover on downs, instead shining the spotlight on Hartselle’s D. The unit limited the Bearcats to 218 total yards, including just 63 in the second half.

Dustin Stephenson put an end to Cullman’s final drive with the Tigers’ last of three interceptions.

“We just didn’t really ever get in a rhythm on offense tonight,” Britton said. “That’s a tribute to Hartselle’s defense.”

Sophomore Ross Crocker had a rough night behind center for the Bearcats, finishing 11 of 28 for 106 passing yards and the three picks. Crenshaw gritted out 53 rushing yards, and Brontae Harris was good for 59. All five of Harris’s carries were out the wildcat formation, which proved to be effective in the short first-half spurts it was utilized.

Maison Goodwin grabbed four catches for 53 yards on Cullman’s final possession to wind up with six receptions for 67 yards.

“We played hard, but they just had our number tonight,” a sullen Goodwin said. “We just didn’t execute our gameplan.”

The Bearcats won’t have long to stew over the defeat with an upstart Decatur squad set to make the short trek south to Oliver Woodard Stadium next Friday.

“The big thing is we’ve got to focus on us. That’s my big concern right now,” Britton said. “We’ve played so well and made so many improvements, and tonight we just took a step backwards. But we’ve got to be patient. We’ll get these guys back to work this week.”