No. 5 Hewitt-Trussville Outlasts Oak Mountain 48-45 in Triple Overtime Thriller
BIRMINGHAM, AL. — Sophomore quarterback Jack Floyd raced around left end on first down in the third overtime Friday night, lifting No. 5 Hewitt-Trussville to a 48-45 Class 6A, Region 3 victory over Oak Mountain and spoiling the Eagles’ homecoming upset bid.
Floyd ran for 130 yards and four touchdowns and threw for another score as the Huskies improved to 4-2 overall and 3-1 in region play. Oak Mountain fell to 1-5 and 0-4, but the Eagles matched the ranked visitors score for score through two extra periods before running out of answers.
Deadlocked After Regulation
Neither team could pull away in a back-and-forth regulation that ended tied 28-28. Floyd did much of the damage on the ground for Hewitt-Trussville, while Oak Mountain leaned on quarterback John Vacarella and senior running back Kentrell Tolbert to keep pace with one of the state’s top-ranked programs.
The Eagles’ resilience in front of a homecoming crowd set the stage for an overtime session that would require three rounds to settle.
First Overtime: Vacarella Strikes, Floyd Answers
Oak Mountain took the first possession of overtime and wasted little time grabbing the lead. Vacarella capped the series with a 3-yard touchdown run, breaking the regulation tie and putting the Eagles ahead 35-28.
Hewitt-Trussville responded right away. Floyd scrambled 10 yards into the end zone, and the extra point knotted the game at 35-35, sending it to a second overtime.
Second Overtime: Martin’s Dive, Vacarella’s Fourth-Down Push
The Huskies went on offense first in the second extra period. Floyd flipped a shovel pass to tight end Jackson Martin, who dove into the end zone to put the visitors up 42-35.
Oak Mountain turned to Tolbert to answer. The senior ground out runs of 3, 5 and 1 yards, setting up fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line. After a timeout, Vacarella bulled his way into the end zone over right tackle, and the extra point tied the game at 42-42.
Third Overtime: Field Goal Falls Short of Enough
Oak Mountain opened the third overtime by going to the air on its first two downs. The first pass fell incomplete, and Vacarella threw the second away under heavy pressure from the Hewitt-Trussville defense.
Tolbert picked up a yard on third down. Oak Mountain kicker No. 31 then drilled a 21-yard field goal to give the Eagles a 45-42 lead.
Hewitt-Trussville needed only one play to answer. Floyd kept the ball on first down and raced around left end for his fourth rushing touchdown of the night, ending the 3OT marathon and sealing the 48-45 win.
Floyd Powers Huskies
Floyd accounted for five total touchdowns, three of them in overtime. His 130 rushing yards and steady decision-making under pressure carried Hewitt-Trussville through a road test that tested the Huskies’ depth and composure.
Martin’s diving grab in the second overtime gave the Huskies their only lead of the extra periods before the final play. The Hewitt-Trussville defense also came up big when it mattered most. Its pressure in the third overtime forced Oak Mountain to settle for three points instead of seven.
Eagles Show Fight Despite Record
Oak Mountain’s record does not reflect how close the Eagles came to knocking off a top-five team. Vacarella scored two overtime touchdowns, including the gritty fourth-down plunge. Tolbert gave the Eagles a reliable option in short-yardage situations.
The loss keeps Oak Mountain winless in region play. Still, the Eagles proved they can compete with the top of Class 6A, Region 3.
What’s Next
Hewitt-Trussville returns home to host Thompson on Thursday in a key Region 3 matchup. Oak Mountain travels to Prattville on Friday for another region contest.
