When a team scores 78, 62 & 55 points in three wins this season, it sounds to good to be true. You would think those would be some football video games scores, but it is not as the high powered #3 Hewitt-Trussville (6-0, 3-0) will host #6 Bob Jones (5-1, 3-0) in a key Class 7A, Region 4 contest. Hewitt-Trussville is averaging 48.3 points per game to lead the 7A classification in scoring offense.
"We have been pretty balanced on offense along with several weapons that we have been fortunate to have," said Huskies Head coach Josh Floyd. "Our quarterback has been very efficient in our passing game. Connor has made great decisions and lets our players make plays." That quarterback has been Connor Adair. The senior QB has completed 94-of-128 (73.4%) passing for 1,363 yards with 16 touchdowns and only two interceptions.
One of the weapons for the Huskies is running back Grayson Cash. The senior running back has 596 yards on 76 carries for a 7.8 yards per carry and 11 touchdowns. "Grayson is smart football player with a high football IQ," added Floyd. "He understands the game. He is a duel threat type of player for us from the running back position. He has some speed and plays fast on Friday nights." Cash has 13 receptions for 242 yards and five touchdowns on the season.
Another big weapon for the Huskies is Noah Igbinoghene. The senior wide receiver has made the transition to a duel back this season as he pretty much was used as a receiver last season. "We wanted to get the ball in his hands more," said Floyd. "He has played a little quarterback and running back while it started pretty much in the spring game for us. We want to give him more of the football because he is tough to handle."
Igbinoghene is a triple jumper and long jumper on the track team and has great speed. Igbinoghene has 30 receptions for 392 yards and five touchdowns on the season while he will present a difficult matchup with the Patriots secondary. Igbinoghene has 394 yards on 40 carries for a whopping 9.9 yards per carry average and six touchdowns on the season. Igbinoghene looks to play football and run track next year in college.
A few other weapons for the Huskies Friday night will be Elliott McElwain who has 353 yards on 25 carries & four touchdowns, Logan Pitts has 289 yards on 16 receptions & a touchdown. McElwain has 231 yards on 36 carries & 2 touchdowns on the ground this season.
On the offensive line, the Huskies are led by Zach Moode. The 6-foot-0, 280-pounder sets the tone for the line. William Adams, Tyler McIlwain, Griffin Quick, and Randall Lartigue fill out the Huskies offensive line.
The Huskies defense is led by Nic Jackson. The senior linebacker leads the team with 70 total tackles and six tackles for loss for the year. "Our defense is improving throughout the year," added Floyd. "We have been getting better and better. Our secondary has been better each week. We have done a really good job in region play and look to keep doing that each week." Christian Smith leads the Huskies with three sacks on the season.
Bob Jones will need to score some points in this game. Quarterback Brady Polson leads the Patriots with 45-of-94 passing for 855 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. Polson was 13-of-26 passing for 301 yards & 3 TD's against James Clemens earlier in the year and might need another game like that one to get a road victory against the Huskies. "Brady is our senior caption, quarterback and I have told him that we need him to throw three touchdown passes before in a game and this game is like that one," said Patriots Head coach Kevin Rose. "He has started 25 games now and I would't want anyone else to have the ball in their hands."
Polson has his own weapons on offense. The Patriots are averaging 29.5 points per game. Milkhi Stewart has 22 catches for 356 yards and five touchdowns on the season. Demontrez Brown has 317 yards on 11 receptions and a touchdown along with Sam Barnes has 121 yards on 6 catches and two touchdowns on the season.
At running back, Brad Anderson is back after a few weeks off with an injury. Anderson has 442 yards on 35 carries and five touchdowns this season. "A healthy Brad Anderson makes a big difference in our backfield," added Rose. "We have been able to develop two other running backs in his absence in Jalen Williams and Isiah Hatchett so I think that will make us a better football team down the stretch." Williams has 497 yards on 88 carries and six touchdowns while Hatchett has 208 yards on 45 carries and four touchdowns on the season.
The offensive line could be a difference make for the Patriots in this game. Offensive tackle Kendall Randolph is a big reason why the Patriots line could be the difference. "Kendall is very athletic for his size," said Rose. "Has very good feet and uses his hands very well." The Alabama commit has all the talent to play at the next level. "We are very confident in our offensive line," said Rose. "We think we can run the football and when you can do that it opens everything else in your offense." With Randolph, Caleb Lawson, McKinley Regan, Ethan Gannuch and Tucker Walters round out the solid offensive line.
On defense, defensive lineman Gavin Lewis has been a wrecking crew on opposing offenses. The Patriots defense is giving up under three touchdowns a game while Lewis and company have been getting better each week. If the Huskies keep Lewis in check, cornerbacks Malkyle Stewart and Jonathan Parker with safties A.J. Harris and Jay Hawthorne will need to have a big night. "We need to stay away from their big plays," said Rose. "We know they are going to get yardage and first downs, we just need to keep them out of the end zone."
Hawthorne has 50 tackles, one interception, with two punt blocks and a touchdown on the season. "Jay is having a phenomenal season, he really has exceeded our expectations," said Rose. "He has done a great job of making big hits and big plays. A.J. is a solid player with three interceptions in our last three games and that is what we need Friday night just like the James Clemens games where we forced a few turnovers and turned one into a touchdown. Our defense needs to create two turnovers in this game."
