Lions outscore Central 33-16

FLORENCE - The Haleyville Lions (1-1-0) traveled to the Central High School (0-2-0) in Florence Friday night, bringing home a 33-16 victory.
Haleyville scored on the opening possession of the game. Quarterback Eli Musso and the offense started with good field position at the HHS 49.   Christian Chambers took the first hand-off for a five yard gain, where Musso moved the chains on a keeper to the CHS 36.
Camden Smith traveled three yards and then brought down a reception to the Wildcat 22. Chambers went right for six yards and Kane Gravitt-Tucker weaved his way on a carry down to the 11-yard-line. Musso and Gravitt-Tucker moved the ball down to the 4-yard-line, where Smith scored the touchdown. The Lions scored the two-point conversion to take an 8-0 lead.
The Wildcats answered quickly, scoring on the second snap of the next series. Dalton Hanback took the handoff from quarterback Payton Palmer to go 78-yards on the score. The two-point conversion was good, tying the score, with just under minutes left in the first quarter of play.
The Wildcats took the lead in the second quarter. Central was facing 4th-and-9, at the HHS 12. Palmer connected with Hanback  for the touchdown. Hanback also scored the two point conversion, making the score 16-8.
Haleyville scored on the on the next possession with a pass to Eli Wakefield, but the the touchdown was negated on a chop block call, losing possession to the Wildcats on the drive.
The Lions’ defense held tough, forcing a punt from the end zone.
Haleyville took the ball at the CHS 37. A run by Gravitt-Tucker and completion to Austin Barry gave the Lions a first down, but a false start pushed HHS back to the 26-yard-line. Musso hit Barry again for 11-yards. Whitman carried twice  to move inside the 10, at the 6-yard-line. The Lions again was backed up five yards on a false start call. Matt Coleman brought down a Musso throw for the touchdown. Smith took the wildcat snap to score the PAT and tie the numbers at 16-16.
 A fumble recovery midway into the third period gave the Lions possession at the CHS 31.
Musso went to Chambers twice, with the ball carrier scoring from 20 yards out. Jacob Lolley booted in the PAT, putting Haleyville ahead 23-16.
HHS’s next score came on a 31 -yard field goal by Lolley to start the fourth quarter. This stretched Haleyville’s lead 26-16.
The Lions crossed the goalline for the final time Friday night with 4:16 left in the game.
HHS took over on downs at the HHS 33. Gravitt-Tucker carried twice down the CHS 47. Jackson Kennedy moved the chains twice in a row on carries to the Wildcat 36 and 25. Whitman carried the ball in to score from the right side. Lolley’s PAT finalized the score 33-16.
HHS Head Coach Chris Musso commented following the game, “I thought we did some good things tonight, but we still have a lot to work on. I am proud of our kids on how they fought back. Good adjustments were made at halftime to come out with a  victory.
“Next week is a region came for us at Oak Grove and we have to be ready.”