Photo by Todd Lester
Briarwood Football
Briarwood's Hudson Hartsfield (11) in the state championship game. He had five catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns.
TUSCALOOSA — Hudson Hartsfield is not the most heralded wide receiver on the Briarwood Christian School football team. That distinction goes to fellow senior Carson Eddy, who emerged as the go-to target throughout the fall for quarterback Michael Hiers.
But Eddy was neutralized in the Lions’ 17-14 loss to St. Paul’s in Thursday’s Class 5A state final. Covered frequently by Jalyn Armour-Davis, a four-star defensive back committed to Alabama, he caught only two passes for 29 yards.
Hartsfield compensated for the drop in production. The 5-foot-10 wideout corralled five receptions for 78 yards, including both of Briarwood’s touchdowns.
“I mean, it means the world to be out here and represent Briarwood and this school,” Hartsfield said. “We played with class and with great effort.”
Hartsfield hauled in his first score midway through the second quarter, when he caught a 6-yard pass on an out route near the front, left corner of the end zone. The completion capped a 12-play, 53-yard drive during which he also made a critical catch, with arms outstretched, on fourth-and-9.
Briarwood took a 7-3 lead on his next reception.
“We’ve had chemistry the entire year,” Hiers said. “We were picking on the slants, and Hudson did a good job of getting open and catching them.”
Hartsfield found the end zone again late in the third quarter, when he caught a 12-yard pass on another slant from Hiers on third-and-goal. Hartsfield juggled the ball and didn’t secure firm possession until he was falling across the goal line.
“The corner had a little bit of inside coverage, but I was still able to get there and Michael threw a perfect pass,” Hartsfield said.
Earlier in the drive, Hartsfield had come down with a clutch grab on an intermediate post route that went for 28 yards. St. Paul’s was flagged for a horse collar penalty while making the tackle, which tacked on 15 yards to the end of the play.
Hartsfield collected his bobbling touchdown, which extended Briarwood’s lead to 14-3, a few snaps later. But St. Paul’s rallied to score 14 points unanswered. The comeback clinched the Saints' third state championship in four years.
“This is my last ride,” Hartsfield said. “But I’m proud of what we did, proud of what we accomplished.”