Two dominant backs in Jaheim Pruitt and Parker Reno are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Hartselle Tigers will welcome the Mortimer Jordan Blue Devils at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Hartselle's defense has only allowed 9.9 points per game this season, so Mortimer Jordan's offense will have their work cut out for them.
Things were looking good for Hartselle after they put the first points on the board on Friday, but unfortunately for them things went downhill from there. They took a hard 31-17 fall against Muscle Shoals. The Tigers were up 14-0 in the first quarter but couldn't hold on to the lead.
Hartselle might have lost, but man, Cain Falciani was a machine: he picked up 126 receiving yards and two scores. Jase Hopper also deserves some recognition as he posted his first receiving yards of the season.
Meanwhile, Mortimer Jordan entered their tilt with Jackson-Olin on Thursday with two consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with three. They strolled past the Mustangs with points to spare, taking the game 28-14. The Blue Devils pushed the score to 28-8 by the end of the third, a deficit the Mustangs cut but never quite recovered from.
Hartselle better keep an eye on Blaze Neely. He was instrumental in Mortimer Jordan's win, throwing for 119 yards and one TD, while also punching in one touchdown on the ground. What's more, Neely racked up 28 rushing yards, the most he's had since back in September of 2024.
Mortimer Jordan was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 226 rushing yards. That's a new trend for them: they were averaging 91.3 rushing yards per game earlier this season, but in their last five games they've averaged 195.3.
Mortimer Jordan's defense made their presence known, laying out the QB three times. Conner Carnes was particularly dangerous to the passing game, picking up two sacks himself. He also set a new season-high mark in total tackles with eight.
Having lost for the first time this season, Hartselle fell to 8-1. As for Mortimer Jordan, they picked up their first road victory, bumping their record up to 4-5.
Everything went Hartselle's way against Mortimer Jordan when the teams last played back in October of 2024, as Hartselle made off with a 21-0 win. Do the Tigers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Blue Devils turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
