FULTONDALE —
Top-ranked Tanner played suffocating defense all night to log its third straight shutout of the post-season, with a 14-0 win over Fultondale that lands the Rattlers in the AHSAA Class 2A semifinals.
The difference in this one was Tanner’s ability to contain ArDarius Stewart, Fultondale’s electrifying quarterback. The Wildcats have relied on his superior athleticism to control tempo and dictate momentum throughout the playoffs, and the entire season for that matter.
The Rattler defense was loaded with impressive athletes that possessed the ability to swarm Stewart’s rushing attempts and render him wholly ineffective.
“They had more people in the box than we did, so the odds were not in our favor,” said Fultondale head coach Keith Register.
Tanner was particularly impressive on the defensive front. Juniors Seth Smith and Shamaud Baker, along with seniors Trey Fletcher and Kyle Shoulders anchor the Rattlers defense.
Their ability to dominate the Wildcats offensive front and strike down the Fultondale running game made it a long night for the typically dominant Stewart, who scorched the highlight videos just one week ago with seven rushing touchdowns on 350 yards on the ground against Fyffe.
“We had to do a better job of throwing and catching, but we couldn’t [get it done],” said Register.
Despite defeating Tanner in time of possession and plays run, the Wildcats were unable to answer the visitors’ two early touchdowns.
“We came in so ready to play that we didn’t take care of our fundamentals on those first two drives,” said Fultondale linebacker Julian Hardy.
Sophomore quarterback Jonathon Fletcher commandeered a six-play, 85-yard drive on their opening possession, which was capped off by Shoulders’ 30-yard rumble on fourth down and one. Fletcher answered with a four-play, 39-yard drive just minutes later to give Tanner a 14-0 lead that would never be threatened. Fredrick Rich took the handoff 19 yards down the visitors’ sideline.
Fultondale’s defense played admirably all night, giving Stewart and the offense plenty of opportunities to strike. But Stewart overthrew any chance Fultondale had to advance.
Midway through the second quarter, the Wildcat coaching staff dialed up a beautiful hitch-and-go route that left Jared Stewart completely alone with nothing but the end zone before him.
However, his brother fired a laser that gave Jared no chance of tracking it down, squandering a perfect scoring opportunity.
“We had our chances, we just couldn’t make it work,” said Register.
Misfired deep balls became the norm for Fultondale in the second half.
The Wildcats’ inability to adjust their game against a physical defense, and also to connect on vertical passes, leaves them at home while Tanner moves on to the semifinals against Reeltown next Friday.
Local Sports
Analysis: Suffocating Tanner defense thwarted Fultondale's Stewart
Wildcats simply couldn't adjust to Rattlers' swarming coverage
- Local Sports
-
-
Football: Glover to coach, three Pinson Valley players on North roster of All-Star teams
Three Pinson Valley seniors-to-be were named to the roster of the north team, and Indians coach Matt Glover will be an assistant for the north team at the AHSAA North-South All-Star Football Game in Montgomery.
-
Hayden wins AHSAA 5A state softball championship
Brooke Meadows' lead-off home run in the first inning held up as the only run of the game, as Hayden defeated Scottsboro 1-0 Saturday to win the AHSAA Class 5A state softball championship.
-
State softball tournament: Hayden advances to championship game with 2-0 win over Scottsboro
All it took was one big hit, and that came off the bat of Katie Parr.
-
State softball tournament: Hayden 3, Saraland 2 (10 innings)
Brooke Meadows hit a lead-off double, then scored the winning run when Meleah Hargett bunted her way on base as Hayden defeated Saraland 3-2 in 10 innings in the quarterfinal round of the AHSAA Class 5A state softball tournament.
-
State softball tournament: Hayden 12, Shelby County 0 (6 innings)
Hayden has advanced to the winner's bracket second round of the AHSAA Class 5A state softball tournament, thanks to a 12-0 beatdown of Shelby County that ended after six innings.
-
State softball tournament: Corner eliminated by Oak Grove
After breezing through their regional qualifying tournament without a loss, then dispensing with a top-10 opponent in the first round of the state tournament, Corner’s softball team showed all the appearances of a juggernaut headed for a big finish to the season.
-
Regional softball qualifiers: Corner, Hayden advance to state tournament
Corner took the express lane, while Hayden took the back roads with lots of twists and turns.
-
Baseball playoff semifinals: Hartselle 7-10, Pinson Valley 2-0
Pinson Valley’s pitching had no answer for Hartselle’s bats.
-
Boys soccer semifinals: St. Paul's Episcopal 2,Pinson Valley 1 (shootout)
Pinson Valley’s boys soccer team has seen this show before, and it wasn’t any better the second time.
-
Softball regionals: Tuscaloosa in rain delay
The opening of the AHSAA North Central Regional Softball Tournament will not get started on time, thanks to rain in the Tuscaloosa area.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
Football: Glover to coach, three Pinson Valley players on North roster of All-Star teams
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying
Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
Jersey Shore Open for Business
Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington
New Wheelchair Lift Promises More Access
First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys
