Bulldogs fall to Vinemont 21-20

Sportspage Game of the Week:
At Mark Smothers Stadium - Vinemont
Hanceville  0  12  8  0  -  20 (1-3, 0-2)
Vinemont   0   14  0  7  -  21 (1-2, 1-1)
​VM - Carl Price 6 run (Austin Sparks kick) 8:28 in 2nd
HV - Romeal Simmons 3 run (kick failed) 5:39 in 2nd
VM - Price 6 run (Sparks kick) 1:28 in 2nd
HV - Alex Campbell 12 run (run failed) 0:16 in 2nd
HV - R.J. Evans 43 run (Campbell pass to Owen Harper) 9:07 in 3rd
VM - Jack Hill 14 pass to Dustin Moore (Sparks kick) 0:35 in 4th
 FLASH NOTES: Vinemont stole victory from Hanceville in this 3A, Region 6 battle by getting the ball at its 17 with 1:35 left after Hanceville failed to convert on fourth down and one from the Eagles' 18-yard line.
 Hill, who came into the game late in the final period, got a 63-yard completion to Teague Whatley, bringing the ball to the Hanceville 20 with less than a minute to play. Price picked up a first down inside the Hanceville 10 then the Eagles were penalized for delay of game, sending them back to the 14-yard line.
 Hill hit Moore on a slant route that carried into the end zone and Sparks' conversion sent the Eagles back on top with Hanceville still in a position to win the game.
 From their 42, the Bulldogs got a 36-yard completion from Campbell to Evans that placed the ball at the Vinemont 22 with time running out. Campbell tried to pass on the next snap, lost his footing and suffered a 20-yard loss as the clock hit zero.
 Vinemont had a miracle victory, Hanceville a painful defeat.
 The Bulldogs dominated the statistics, especially in the second half with 199 yards offense to 93 for the Eagles. Hanceville rushed for 160 in the second half, 132 coming during the third quarter that featured a 76-yard march to the end zone on the first series of the second half.
 Hanceville started two drives late in the game deep in Vinemont territory and added no points on its side of the scoreboard. The Bulldogs gave up the football to the Eagles five times on fourth down snaps, three in the final quarter.
 Vinemont had the total offense advantage in the opening half with 158 to 147. Running the ball for 77 yards in the second quarter boosted Stephen Robinson's squad. But in the second half, Hanceville's defense yielded Vinemont just 29 yards rushing, 11 coming in the third quarter.
 Evans gained 166 yards on the ground as Hanceville accounted for 253 yards running the football. Simmons added 99 yards as both scored a touchdown for Craig Flanigan's team.
 Price had 55 yards on the ground for the Eagles and two touchdowns. Hill was only four of 16 passing, but the 63-yard gain to Whatley and the 14-yard TD to Moore were the difference between victory and defeat.
UP NEXT: Hanceville @ J.B. Pennington September 22
                 Vinemont vs. Fultondale September 22

Hanceville about to snap the football in the 1st quarter of the Vinemont game Friday.
Sportspage photo by Johnny Thornton

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