Bob Jones gets late push to advance in playoffs

Jeremy Frye passed Bob Jones to a playoff win over Hewitt-Trussville
(RECORD PHOTO/CINDY HESS)

MADISON- Winning in the playoffs is tough. Bob Jones found that out Friday night as the Patriots needed a late touchdown to secure a first round 21-12 victory over a much improved Hewitt-Trussville team than the one Bob Jones faced in a spring game in May.

A Bob Jones fumble in the third quarter of a 14-0 game let the Huskies back in the game as Hewitt-Trussville outscored Bob Jones 12-0 in the third quarter.

“It’s playoff football, everybody is good, we’re just glad we survived and advanced,” Bob Jones coach Kevin Rose said. “We did them a favor by not putting them away (early), we had a chance to and sometimes when you don’t you don’t survive, at least we survived.”

Quarterback Jeremy Frye again came up big in the clutch. In the fourth quarter clinging to a two point lead, Frye drove Bob Jones to a clinching touchdown. He hit Ryan Crooks on a 70-yard pass on third and long. Then he finished the drive with a seven yard touchdown run with 7:25 left.

Despite playing in his first playoff game, Frye didn’t let the pressure get to him.

“I was feeling like it was a normal game, trying to keep my composure for the team,” he said. “It’s not just me it’s my teammates, they held blocks and I just made a play for the team.”

Rose said Frye was one of a number of players that had great games.

“He made a great run on the quarterback draw,” Rose said.

Bob Jones missed opportunities in the first quarter. Frye connected with Hunter Scoggins to the five- yard line but the Patriots couldn’t get in the end zone and a 22-yard field goal attempt failed.

Bob Jones got another chance and converted after Dylan Haraway caused a fumble and returned it to the six yard line. Tyler Whalen hit Jay Rogers on a six yard touchdown pass on the next play and Bob Jones led 7-0 after Trulock’s extra point.

Jay Rogers scored two touchdowns in playoff win
(RECORD PHOTO/CINDY HESS)

Bob Jones controlled the Huskies offense early and forced a three-and-out.

Frye connected with Ryan Crooks for 25 yards and Jay Rogers scored on a two-yard touchdown run. Bob Jones led 14-0 at halftime.

Crooks had a big game offensively but he had two fumbles, one cost the Patriots a touchdown in the third quarter when he mishandled a punt at his ten yard line.

Zach Thomas scored on a five yard run to put Hewitt Trussville on the board but the extra point was no good. Hewitt-Trussville scored again in the third quarter when Blake Bailey hit Riley Stokes with a 70 yard touchdown pass but the two point try failed.

Quarterback Blake Bailey led Hewitt-Trussville into the playoffs with three straight wins. He had two good receivers and finished with 273 passing yards on 22 of 47. But he go no rushing help as the Huskies had only 11 net yards on 24 carries.

Frye led Bob Jones back with the pressure drive and his score made it 21-12. For the game, Frye hit 19 of 32 passes for 304 yards.

Crooks caught 11 passes for 182 yards. Jay Rogers led Bob Jones in rushing with 72 yards on 17 attempts and two touchdowns.

Defensively, Brandon Davis moved to linebacker and made two big plays. He recovered a fumble in the third quarter and intercepted a pass in the second.

The entire defense stepped up on the final drive to keep the Huskies from scoring while burning clock time as Hewitt-Trussville drove inside the five yard line but was held on downs after a sack by Julian Lewis.

Bob Jones played the entire second half without starting cornerback Jarek Taylor who left the game with a concussion.

Bob Jones will now host Oxford who has the top running back in the state in Auburn-commit Racean Thomas. Oxford defeated TuscaloosaCounty 50-22.