HAZEL GREEN — With Friday night’s game on the line in the fourth quarter, Florence junior quarterback Kendrick Doss kept the ball in his hands against Hazel Green.

His 4-yard touchdown run with 7:08 left was the difference as the Falcons beat Hazel Green. Florence improved to 4-3 overall and 4-1 in Class 6A, Region 8, clinching a playoff berth.

Doss had 19 carries for 121 yards and two touchdowns, covering 23 and 4 yards. He completed 13-of-17 passes for 128 yards and a 30-yard touchdown pass to Roland Adams.

“I had a big night,” Doss said. “It’s all due to my coaches and my offensive line and my receivers.”

His 23-yard burst up the middle opened the scoring at 8:55 in the first quarter, capping a nine-play, 83-yard drive.

Hazel Green (4-3, 2-3) tied the score at 5:03 on the first of two touchdown runs by Rodney Held. His 4-yarder capped a seven-play, 61-yard drive. He also had a 5-yarder in the third quarter.

After Doss’ touchdown pass to Adams at 6:45 in the third, Hazel Green answered with Held’s second touchdown at 6:14. But Doss’ deciding score in the fourth quarter capped a nine-play, 63-yard drive.

“We’re trying to build a tradition here,” said Florence coach Jamey DuBose, who led Prattville to state titles in 2008 and 2011. “I think tonight was a step in the right direction. We clinched a playoff berth.”

Hazel Green quarterback/punter Corey Collier had 11 carries for 97 yards. But the Trojans lost two fumbles in the second half.

“We didn’t execute everything the way we should,” said Collier, a senior. “We made small mistakes.”

Florence had 20 first downs and 372 total yards, including 244 on the ground. Hazel Green had 10 first downs and 255 yards, 211 on the ground.

“Florence has got a very talented football team,” Hazel Green coach Matt Putnam said. “And they had a good game plan and they executed better than we did.”