Handley beats Elmore County, returns to playoffs

According the old football coaches’ cliché, it’s not how you start but how you finish.

Well that was never truer than Friday night for the Handley Tigers as they scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns to seal a 35-7 win over Elmore County and clinch a spot in the playoffs.

“It was probably the worst first half that we played all year long,” said Handley head coach Larry Strain. “We played flat. And that had a lot to do with them. But once it kind of broke open, it broke open. In the fourth quarter was when it all happened.”

Handley entered the game needing to win one of its two remaining region games to assure itself a playoff spot. With the final region game coming next week at home against Dadeville, Strain didn’t want his team waiting until the last opportunity.

“We knew that we had to take care of business on the road,” Strain said. “We knew that we really didn’t have to win but one more to get in, but we wanted to take care of it this week.”

That outcome was in doubt for much of the game. Handley led just 7-0 at halftime thanks to a touchdown pass from Rhett Fetner to Jay Brown.

The lead was 14-7 at the start of the fourth quarter when Handley pulled away.

Josh Hatcher caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Fetner to make the score 21-7 with 7:05 left in the game. Then Handley defensive back Christion Allen iced the game on Elmore County’s next possession.

“First play from scrimmage [after the Hatcher touchdown] they drop back to throw the ball and Christion Allen intercepts it and runs it back for a touchdown,” Strain said. “And that broke their back then. That made it 28-7.”

Following another Elmore County turnover Handley’s Spanky Watts delivered the final blow with a 90-yard touchdown run – his second touchdown of the game. Watts led the Tigers with 119 yards on eight carries.

That production was crucial as Handley has played the past three games with limited or no production from top running back Mikeia Trammell. 

Hatcher, a junior, has stepped into Trammell’s spot the past two weeks and has been productive both as a runner and a pass catcher. Over the last two games he has 20 offensive touches (16 rushes, 4 receptions) for 157 yards and a touchdown.

“Josh Hatcher has really stepped forward. He’s played well these last two weeks,” Strain said. “He’s somebody that went from just a backup role to now he’s inserted in the lineup, and he’s catching passes out of the backfield, running the football hard and playing that inside linebacker spot. That’s been huge for us.”

Rhett Fetner had another solid performance at quarterback for Handley as he completed 8-of-15 passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns.

“Rhett is doing exceptionally well, but our offensive line is giving him plenty of time to throw too,” Strain said. “You have to credit the offensive line. I thought they blocked extremely well on Friday.”

Handley’s starting offensive line features Seth May, Timmy Yarbrough, Tre Drake, Justin Higgins and Dakota Pike.

Handley hosts Abbeville in a non-region game for homecoming Friday. The Tigers are still mathematically alive for the region championship but would need Leeds to lose one of its remaining two region games. Handley can clinch at least second place in the region and a home game in the first round of the playoffs if Elmore County defeats Dadeville Friday.