Tharptown wins season opener in new coach’s debut

It was the perfect ending to a long week for first-year Tharptown head coach Jacob Hamilton, as his Wildcats upended the Shoals Christian Flame 28-14.

Not only did he have to prepare and practice the game plan with his team, Hamilton had to learn to juggle the things many don’t think about at the outset of a new head coaching job – making sure the lights are working, making sure players are eligible, making sure the grass is cut and the field is painted. To top all that off, his school had to abruptly close early on game day because of water issues stemming from a leak and delayed repairs from the West Lawrence Water Authority.

“It was a long and exhausting week,” said Hamilton, who recently turned 25 years old. “It just feels great to get that first one out of the way.”

It wasn’t pretty, by any stretch. Most seasonopening games aren’t. Turnovers plagued both teams – many times leading to touchdowns.

“We played hard and with a lot of enthusiasm and intensity,” said Hamilton, “but we made a lot of mistakes we are going to have to work on.”

Shoals Christian scored first when a Tharptown fumble popped into the air and a Flame defender snatched it and ran it 52 yards for the game’s first points.

Tharptown’s Dawson Higgins scored from 20 yards out to cut the Flame’s lead to 7-6 with 4:13 to go in the first quarter.

With just less than two minutes remaining in the first quarter, Joel Perez picked up a Shoals Christian fumbled punt snap and returned it 30 yards, giving Tharptown a 12-7 lead.

About two minutes into the second quarter, the Wildcats extended their lead on an 8-yard by Hunter Reynolds. Higgins’ two-point conversion run made the score 20-7.

Shoals Christian cut into Tharptown’s lead at the start of the third quarter with a 12-yard run for a touchdown to make the score 20-14.

The Wildcats, however, added their final score with 18 seconds to go in the third quarter when Jeremy Vasquez returned another Shoals Christian fumble for a touchdown. This return went for 18 yards. Reynolds completed the two-point conversion pass to Vasquez to give the Wildcats a 28-14 lead.

Vasquez had a huge night for the Wildcats on the defensive side of the ball, recording four tackles and four sacks, including the fumble recovery for a touchdown. Offensively, Vasquez carried the ball nine times for 73 yards.

Reynolds recorded six tackles and caused two fumbles, including one recovered for a touchdown.

Higgins led the Wildcats offensively, carrying the ball 20 times for 121 yards and a touchdown.

Tharptown travels to Bear Creek Friday night to play Phillips.

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Mousey Brown

News

Russellville First Baptist Church receives historical marker

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Meeting a higher standard – Russellville High School JROTC

News

RCS BOE announces new superintendent  

News

Miss Dream Girl Pageant names winners

Franklin County

First Metro Bank hosts FAME Girls’ Ranch donation drive

News

PCHS holds annual Shelby Grissom Memorial Fashion Show

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

x