SMITHVILLE, Miss. Hatley needed someone to pull the Tigers back into a game that had nearly gotten away from them. Chris Foster kept finding a way.
Foster completed all six passes for 127 yards and a touchdown in Hatley's 22-20 comeback victory at Smithville. The senior also rushed nine times for 68 yards and a touchdown, accounting for two of Hatley's three touchdowns.
For that performance, Foster is the NMSN Player of the Week, presented by Impact Health Clinics.
An arm and legs that changed the night
Smithville scored the first 20 points at Thomas Carroll Field. Hatley did not reach the end zone until the final minute of the first half, when Koltan Brown finished the Tigers' first scoring drive with 25 seconds remaining.
That touchdown and the two-point conversion cut Smithville's lead to 20-8 at halftime. More important, Hatley finally had an answer before receiving the second-half kickoff.
Foster supplied the next one through the air. Brody Dickerson broke open behind the Smithville defense, and Foster found him for a 60-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Another two-point conversion made it 20-16.
The comeback was complete with 10:01 left in the fourth. Foster scored his rushing touchdown to put Hatley ahead 22-20, the Tigers' first lead of the game.
He was not finished. After Hatley's defense stopped Smithville inside the 10-yard line, Foster broke another long run as the Tigers worked to drain the final minutes. Hatley kept the ball, protected the lead and left Smithville with its fifth straight victory in the rivalry.
A senior at the center of a 2-0 start
Foster wore No. 0 on Friday night and entered his senior season with experience at quarterback and running back. Against Smithville, Hatley used both parts of his game.
Foster finished 6-for-6 through the air, pairing his 127 passing yards with 68 rushing yards on nine carries. His passing touchdown helped turn the third quarter; his rushing touchdown supplied the winning points.
The win moved Hatley to 2-0 after a 24-18 victory at Nettleton in the opener. The Tigers travel to Mantachie on Friday, Sept. 11, for their third consecutive road game.
Fans can watch the full Hatley-Smithville replay and follow more North Mississippi football coverage on WatchNMSN.com.
