Hatton blanks Tharptown

Tharptown quarterback Heath Hatton looks for a receiver in Friday’s game. Photo by Bart Moss.

By Bart Moss

For the FCT

The Tharptown Wildcats drove the ball into the red zone twice in the first half of Friday night’s game against Hatton but could not come away with any points.

That would prove costly as the Hornets would go on to rout the Wildcats 33-0.

Hatton scored first on a nine play, 62-yard drive that ended in a Trey Brown seven-yard touchdown run to give the Hornets a 7-0 lead.

Brown would score again with 2:02 remaining in the first quarter on a 46-yard touchdown run to make the score 14-0.

The Hornets extended their lead to 20-0 on a Braxton Fretwell two-yard run in the opening minute of the second quarter.

Tharptown drove the ball inside the Hatton 11 yard line midway through the second quarter and was poised to score, but a tipped ball landed into the hands of a Hatton defender.

The Hornets would drive 89 yards and end the drive with a two-yard touchdown run by Bailey Logston.

The Wildcats would take the ball deep into Hatton territory again. But, again, another interception spoiled the drive. Fortunately for the Wildcats, the pick-six would be called back on a penalty giving the Wildcats another chance. Tharptown got inside the 20 yard line but could not come away with a score.

The third quarter was scoreless.

Hatton got their final score with 2:49 to go in the game when Brown scored his third touchdown on the night on a 20-yard run to make the score 33-0.

Tharptown managed only 86 yards on the ground and 72 yards through the air.

The Wildcats close out their season with a brutal stretch at Red Bay, the number one team in the region. Tharptown (2-6, 2-3) will close out their season at home against the third ranked team in 1A, Hubbertville.