Coffey arrives big time

As the much-used cliché goes, “Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games.”

If that’s so, then Decatur High junior Chris Coffey is officially “big-time.”

He’s just 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds, but Coffey’s three touchdowns made the difference in the Red Raiders’ 31-14 win Friday over Hartselle at Ogle Stadium.

“I could see the blockers in front of me and I just ran. We were a good team tonight,” Coffey said afterward. “The offensive line blocked great; the fullback blocked great. Everybody had their assignments.”

Coffey’s 181 yards rushing made up the bulk of the Red Raiders’ 227 yards on the ground.

Hartselle had a ground force of its own in senior Montrell Murphy, who rushed for 163 yards.

But the Tigers never got Murphy in the end zone, and meanwhile, Coffey broke loose for scoring runs of 22 and 70 yards. In addition, he returned a kickoff 80 yards for a third touchdown.

Decatur (1-1) got its first win of the season in the Class 5A, Region 8 rivalry game, avenging last year’s 17-7 loss to Hartselle at the Tigers’ J.P. Cain Stadium, while Coffey also righted some wrongs from a year ago.

“Chris fumbled four times against Hartselle last year, and I think he set it in his mind he had something to prove,” Decatur coach Jere Adcock said.

Coffey added that it was the perfect timing for a big night to bring pride to the Red Raiders’ home crowd.

“The first region game and plus
a real big rivalry game — I
couldn’t think of a better time,” he said.

Hartselle still a good team: For the Hartselle Tigers, an 0-2 start to the season isn’t as bad as it might sound at first, even though they are preparing for 5A, Region 8 power Russellville on Friday after losses to 6A Austin in the opener and Decatur.

Hartselle coach Bob Godsey said his team still is focused on weekly improvement, and despite losing to Decatur, the Tigers will be competitive in region play.

“We did things better — obviously not good enough,” Godsey said after Friday night’s loss to the Red Raiders.

“I still stand by the fact that we’re a good football team.”

Hazlewood defense holds strong: No team has scored against the Golden Bears as they have started the season 2-0.

In posting back-to-back shutouts over 4A Tarrant and 1A, Region 8 rival Speake on Friday, Hazlewood hasn’t put up huge offensive numbers, but its defense has kept opponents off the board.

Hazlewood won its first two games by a combined 26-0. The Golden Bears’ next defensive challenge is Shoals Christian, which scored 43 points Friday night in a region win over Vina.

East Lawrence earns big win: The East Lawrence Eagles took a big step forward in a quest to build a winning reputation.

After winning only one game in the previous three seasons, the Eagles beat Ardmore 20-7 on Friday night, earning a Class 4A, Region 7 win and defeating a team that made the playoffs last year.

Ardmore finished 5-2 in the region last year, tied for second place in the standings with East Limestone and Madison County. North Jackson placed first

East Lawrence was next to last in the same region standings, getting only a win over last-place DAR.

East Limestone warms up: One touchdown was enough for East Limestone, ranked fourth in 4A, to knock off Athens in a 7-6 opening-week win.

But the Indians showed their typical high-powered offense Friday night in a 41-13 win over 4A, Region 7 opponent Priceville.

East Limestone averaged 30.4 points a game last year in the regular season.

Senior Jonathan Pinque scored four touchdowns Friday for the Indians, which puts him on track for another good year after rushing for 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.