By GALE CAVNESS
pressbox1.com

NEWBERN - As it enters the 2008 campaign, Halls head coach Chris Hurt hopes his team can gain some confidence in its ability to succeed.

A win over intra-county rival Ripley, even in a practice game, will certainly help the cause.

Hurt’s Tigers scored late, held off one last Ripley threat and secured a 22-16 triumph Friday night in the 1st Look Scrimmage at Dyer County High School.

Sponsored by Sports Plus Rehab Centers, it was the ninth annual pre-season event at Choctaw Stadium.

In other scrimmage action at DCHS, it was Heath, Ky. topping Lake County 26-16, Brighton besting Haywood County 12-6 and the host team shutting out Gibson County 13-0.

Hurt, in his sixth season as head coach at his alma mater, was overjoyed with a victory over neighboring Ripley. Two schools from Lauderdale County, the pair participates in different sports classifications.

Regardless of the size or situation, a win by the smaller Halls school over Ripley is something Hurt believes will help his club heading into regular-season competition.

“We’ve lacked confidence,” he explained. “If you believe in yourself, you can do anything. This will help us.”

Halls took the lead on its opening possession when Craig Davis, son of former HHS quarterback Tracy Davis, found Tahj Barlow for a quick scoring strike. The duo teamed up again after Ripley went three-and-out and gave the ball back to the team in black and gold.

Barlow’s second touchdown catch was a pass-and-run play that covered 60 yards.

Ripley, Tigers clad in purple and white, responded with two scores of its own and took the advantage on a rambling romp by senior speedster Antonin Woods from midfield with 2:00 to play.

Down 16-14, Halls answered with a frantic 70-yard march. Ripley penalties helped the effort and Davis racked up some yardage with a scramble that moved the football into scoring range,

Chris Cessac, an HHS junior, found an opening in the end zone and made a nice leaping catch of a Davis pass to put Halls back on top. A two-point conversation pass put the Tigers ahead 22-16 with 20 ticks remaining.

Desperate for big yardage, Ripley went to the ancient “hook-and-ladder” play for a big gainer around the right side. With time running out, Cessac picked off a long pass attempt to secure the win for Halls and set off quite a celebration for a scrimmage game.

“It’s a big county rivalry,” Hurt said. “We didn’t play that up much, but the kids knew it. A win over Ripley anytime is big.”

After spending much of the pre-season implementing a new offensive scheme, Hurt was glad to see his defense make the plays when needed.

Halls held Ripley on downs twice in the closing minutes with both drives nipped deep in HHS territory. The Tigers in purple also hurt themselves with penalties that wiped away three scoring plays.

“We’ve worked so hard putting in the new offense that we’ve sort of neglected the defense,” the coach explained. “Our defense stepped up.”

Hurt and his Tigers get more scrimmage time Friday night when they tangle with Dyer County in jamboree action at Dyersburg High School.

Halls opens the season Aug. 22 when it plays host to Gibson County.