(courtesy of Michael Butler, WTLS Radio)
“This is what we want Tallassee football to be about,” exclaimed THS head coach Mike Battles after the Tigers first win of the season on Friday.
Tallassee improved to 1-1 with a 21-7 win over Handley in Roanoke. It was quite the contrast from a week earlier, and the Tigers did it despite being shorthanded.
“We’ve got some injuries. We’ve got three starters out, so we had to move kids around and ask them to learn it.”
The Tigers set the tone early in a 7:50 scoring drive to open the game converting on three fourth downs including the touchdown play. Freshman Tyler Ellis connected with senior Matt Justiss on fourth-and-15.
Jalyn Daniels had a 35-yard run for a Tallassee score.
With the Tigers leading 14-7 in the fourth quarter, Truck Griffin snagged a fourth-and-26 TD catch to secure it.
“That’s one of the best plays I’ve witnessed in 25 years of coaching. They double cover him, and Truck goes up and makes the play. He probably played 115 snaps tonight. That’s just a kid that wants to win a ball game.”
The Tallassee offense more than doubled its production from the previous week with 225 yards of total offense.
Ellis was 12-for-22 for 122 yards passing with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Griffin had 20 rushes for 68 yards. Daniels had 11 carries for 47 yards.
Will Blocker recorded two sacks. Daniels intercepted a pass in the end zone.
“Our defense played lights out,” Battles added. “These young kids just learned, win or lose - this is what we want Tallassee football to look like.”
Battles is 4-0 vs. Handley at Tallassee as the Tigers beat the squad from Roanoke for the fifth straight time.
Tallassee opens region play on the road next at Greenville.
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