Coaches Mike Battles and Dustin Cook with Cody Gilson

Tigers kick off season with win over Catholic

By Gary Buchanan

For the first time since the 1950s, Tallassee played Catholic in a varsity football game. Just like in the '50s, the result was a Tallassee victory. The Tigers persevered 28-7 in a battle of pre-season top ten teams.  

Defenses ruled in the first half. Tallassee was able to get on the board with a 39-yard scoring strike from Senior quarterback Kalvin Levett to Tavarious “Truck” Griffin. Quinton Jeter’s added the extra point to put the Tigers up 7-0. The score remained the same at the half.

The offenses got better traction in the second half. Levett hit Trent Cochran-Gill on a 14-yard touchdown pass. The extra point put Tallassee on top 14-0.

Catholic was able to get on the board thanks to a six-yard run by Darrell Gibson. Tallassee answered with another Levett to Griffin touchdown pass. Levett sealed the game with a 38-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.

“That was a battle of wills,” remarked Coach Mike Battles. “Two good football teams playing a lot of people both ways for about 160 snaps. We had plenty of opportunities to lay down and quit tonight. But these guys sucked it up and played through. They learned a lot about football tonight and about playing as a team.”

Levett totaled 306 yards of total offense in his first start as quarterback. He also had an interception on defense and a touchdown saving tackle on the last play of the first half. Coach Battles said of his quarterback, “Kalvin did what we hoped and knew he would do. He made plays that not too many people can make. He’s an athlete.”

Levett’s performance earned him Spectrum Player of the Game honors.

Tallassee hosts Handley next Friday night at J. E. “Hot” O’Brien Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. 1300 WTLS/106.5 FM will broadcast live beginning at 6. The game will be simulcast on Spectrum Channel 97 with audio streaming on the TuneIn app and video streaming on YouTube.

Kalvin Levett hits the open field

*View more pictures in the Photos section.

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