Daily photo by Brennen Smith Hartselle High’s Marquez Jones, left, sprints for a first down in Thursday’s home jamboree game against Deshler.

Hartselle edges Deshler; Austin ties in jamboree

From Staff Reports

The Hartselle High football team took a 21-14 victory over visiting Deshler in its final tuneup before the regular season begins next week.

Hartselle’s jamboree victory over Deshler included scoring runs by Montrell Murphy and Marquez Jones in the first half and a touchdown run by Colin Morrow in the second.

Tyler Bennich kicked three extra points for the winning Tigers.

Murphy’s 1-yard scoring run and Jones’ 2-yarder both came in the first quarter. Hartselle led 14-7 at halftime. Both teams played their starters for the first half.

After Deshler tied it at 14-14 in the third quarter, Morrow’s 2- yard touchdown run sealed the win for Hartselle.

Austin 14, Cullman 14: The two teams’ varsities faced off in the opening half, and Cullman led 14-7. Austin added a touchdown in the second half when the two junior varsities played.

Austin threatened to score late in the first quarter, driving the ball into Cullman territory. But the Black Bears were forced to turn over the ball on downs at the Bearcats’ 30.

On the following possession, Cullman marched 70 yards on eight plays and scored on Michael Timmons’ 5-yard touchdown run.

Austin drove to the Cullman 37 on the ensuing series, but once again Cullman’s defense tightened up and the Bearcats forced the Bears to punt.

Cullman then marched 80 yards for a touchdown on a 5- yard run by Tyler Caldwell.

Austin struck just before halftime to get its first points. Justin Jones hit Frederick Moore on a 32-yard touchdown pass with 12.1 seconds remaining in the half. That made it 14-7.

In the second half, Austin’s Saladine Connally scored on a 28-yard TD pass to tie it at 14-14.

Austin will play at Hartselle to open the regular season Thursday.

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