Hackleburg holds off Vina 45-34
Kadin Pounders
For the FCT
The Vina Red Devils (0-6) were defeated 45-34 by the Hackleburg Panthers (3-3) Friday night in Vina.
Vina controlled the clock for most of the first quarter. The Red Devils were the first to get on the scoreboard. Taking advantage of a fumbled punt return by Hackleburg, they drove 34 yards scoring a touchdown on a 19 yard pass from quarterback Tyler Renfrow to Hunter Haithcock. With 4:46 left in the first quarter, Vina led 6-0 after the missed extra point.
It did not take Hackleburg long to respond. The Panthers scored four unanswered touchdowns in the first and second quarters on drives of 53, 36, 46, and 60 yards. Vina’s defense could not get a stop. Hackleburg quarterback Matt Harper threw three of the four touchdowns to Tristan Quinn and rushed for the other touchdown. Harper finished with 164 yards passing and 4 touchdowns. Quinn finished with 7 receptions for 140 yards and 3 touchdowns.
With 4:07 left before halftime, Hackleburg led Vina 30-6.
On Vina’s next possession, the Red Devils scored on two plays. After a short gain by Hunter Lewis, Daniel Wooten took the next handoff 64 yards for a touchdown.
Hackleburg responded with a 55-yard touchdown drive right before the half and at halftime the Red Devils trailed the Panthers 38-13.
The Panthers struck quickly coming out of halftime. Highlighted by a 45-yard run by Evan Crowe, Hackleburg reached the endzone in just over a minute. With 10:50 left in the third quarter the Panthers led Vina 45-13.
After the Hackleburg touchdown to start the third quarter the Red Devils attempted to mount a comeback. The Panthers would not score again the rest of the game.
Vina’s run game picked up in the second half. Hunter Lewis, Daniel Wooten, Andrew Hester, and Tyler Renfrow were all contributors running the ball in the third quarter. Lewis finished with 16 carries for 63 yards while Wooten finished with 11 carries for 163 yards. Wooten praised his coach and his blockers for his great performance.
“I just want to give all the credit to Coach Pharr and I had great, excellent blocking,” Wooten said. Wooten also believes he can have even more nights like that if the blocking is there.
Entering the fourth quarter the Red Devils trailed 45-20.
Vina took over on downs at their own 22-yard line after Hackleburg failed to convert on fourth down. With 10:30 left in the fourth quarter, the Devils started their drive. Ten plays, 5:40 later Vina finally got into the endzone to make it 45-27. A Hackleburg fumble 37 seconds later gave the Devils the ball again and they capitalized.
Starting from their own 45 the Red Devils put together a drive. With 1:22 left in the game, Wooten rushed 14 yards for his third touchdown of the night, cutting the Hackleburg lead to 11.
Vina attempted an onside kick but failed essentially ending the game. The Panthers finished the game in the Victory Formation ending the Vina comeback and the game with a final score of 45-34.
After the game Vina head coach James Pharr commented on his team’s performance.
“Well we didn’t do very well the first quarter, but I think in the second half we battled back,” said Pharr. “We got some breaks in the second half, but I was proud of our kids. I’m glad we didn’t lay down.”
Vina finished with 267 yards of total offense and gave up 357 yards on defense. The Red Devils will face R.A. Hubbard on Oct. 11.
