Brad Anderson follows his blockers against Hazel Green
(Record Photo/Lindsay Vaught)

MADISON- Bob Jones got big plays on offense and special teams to pull away from Hazel Green in the final quarter and claimed a 41-31 win to close out region play. The Patriots (7-2) are on a four game winning streak.

With their playoff position set, Bob Jones coach Kevin Rose held out several starters on defense who were nursing minor injuries.

“It made a difference,” Rose said of missing A.J. Harris and Demarco Clark on defense. “They’re injured so we need guys to step in and contribute and they did. We showed some guts at the end when we got some stops with the game on the line. We were very good in the fourth quarter.”

The win, coupled with Buckhorn’s upset of Gadsden City meant that Bob Jones shared the Region 4 title with Gadsden City, both 6-1 in region play. It is the sixth straight season Bob Jones has won or shared their region.

Hazel Green struck first. An eight yard touchdown run by Everett Lanier. Bob Jones answered with a 54 yard touchdown run by Brad Anderson. Hazel Green went back in front on a 57 yard touchdown pass from Cole Guffey to Kennedy Obiyor. Bob Jones wideout Deondre Douglas then caught a touchdown pass from Brady Polson but Matt Stephenson’s extra point was blocked.

Hazel Green scored again on a fourth and nine on a 24-yard pass from Guffey to Nicolas Moreno. Bob Jones running back Brad Anderson broke a 70 yard run to inside the five yard line. Douglas scored from the one. Douglas scored again as the half ended after a Miles Strickland 52 yard run to the 4 to give Bob Jones a 28-21 halftime lead.

The teams had combined for over 500 yards of offense in the first half, Bob Jones outgained Hazel Green by 100 yards.

“Our offensive line keeps getting better. Brad and Miles both ran the ball really hard,” Rose said. “Deondre made some big plays, Brady made some big throws, we had a lot of people contribute.”

Anderson ran for a season-high 193 yards while Strickland had 103.

The teams traded touchdowns to open the third quarter. Then Hazel Green surged ahead on Obiyor’s 38-yard touchdown run and a 28 yard field goal.

Torrey Hunt took the ensuing kickoff at his 10 and cut through the kick coverage and outran the last defender and the kicker who had the angle on him. It was Hunts’s second kickoff return for a touchdown this season, he had one for 72 yards to open the James Clemens game.

The Bob Jones defense got three turnover-on-downs in the fourth quarter. Bob Jones added a touchdown on an 82-yard pass and run from Polson to Douglas.

“We knew Hazel Green was good on offense so we were hoping to out-score them and get enough stops on defense to win. The kickoff return by Torrey was big.” Rose said.