Lions hold off Trailblazers for 28-22 season-opening win

The Hubbertville Lions opened their regular season Friday night with a hard-fought 28-22 victory over the University Charter Trailblazers at Wiley Hollingsworth Stadium. Winning the coin toss, the Lions elected to receive, sending Landon Dodd and Kane Rushing back for the opening kickoff. Rushing returned the kick 10 yards to the Lions’ 30-yard line. Hubbertville wasted little time finding the end zone. After Charles Keeton gained 7 yards on first down, quarterback Blaize Wakefield connected with Rushing for a 63-yard touchdown with only 57 seconds gone from the game clock. Hutch Miles ran in the two-point conversion to give the Lions an 8-0 lead. University Charter responded with a lengthy drive into Lions territory, but Hubbertville’s defense stood its ground. On fourth down, quarterback Jonah Dubose attempted to connect with Josiah Dubose, but Rushing was in tight coverage and denied the completion, turning the ball over to the Lions. Hubbertville moved into Trailblazers territory on its next possession, helped by a pass interference penalty and runs by Miles, but Wakefield’s fourth-down pass to Rushing was knocked away. The Lions’ defense forced a University Charter punt early in the second quarter, and Hubbertville went back to work.