Seminoles Grab Playoff Spot From County Rival

By Melissa Meador Monroe Journal SMITHVILLE – Smithville snatched the final Division 1-1A playoff spot away from county rival Hamilton, riding five turnovers to a 20-14 win. “This is a big win, deciding playoff factors. It’s two great teams battling right there,” Smithville senior linebacker Cole Williams said. “It could have gone either way.” Nate Ward put Smithville on the board first in the second quarter, cutting through the Hamilton defense for a 31-yard scoring run. Hamilton cut it to a 7-6 lead at the half on Byron Butler’s 35-yard scoring strike to Keshon Heard. The Noles rode the momentum of a blocked punt that gave them the ball at the 11-yard line to score 13 straight on Dee Moore’s 8-yard run and Ward’s 49-yard score. “Those plays (the blocked punt) right there are better than you plan them sometimes,” Smithville coach Chad Collums said.