By Michael V. Hannigan/HCN
ATHENS — The Athens Hornets opened up district play Friday night with an impressive 62-24 win over the Life Waxahachie Mustangs. The Hornets exploded in the second quarter to stretch a 13-10 lead to 41-16 at the half.
Athens improves to 3-2, 1-0 with the win.
Here are 10 observations from a dominate night at Bruce Field.
— This was the most complete game by a team I have seen in a long time. Oh sure, I have seen teams put up a lot of points before, but often it is because there are one or two players who are just better than everyone else on the field. That was not the case Friday night. It seemed like everybody was getting into the fun in this game and that is a testament to coaching. So this week’s Game Ball goes to Coach Paul Essary and his staff for calling a great game.
— The Hornets have now scored 146 points in their past two games: An 84-51 win over Bullard and last night’s 62-24 final. I am not sure how an offense can be much better than the Hornets were against the Mustangs. They scored touchdowns on nine of 10 possessions and had seven different players find the end zone. They racked up over 500 yards of offense, including 136 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
— Speaking of those seven players who scored, here they are:
- Connor Clay on runs of 18 and 4 yards
- Rowdy Godwin on a 25-yard pass from Chase Friedrich
- Jerquindon Taylor on a 91-yard run
- Rhejhi Sherfield on a 23-yard run
- Nathan Sims on runs of 1 and 2 yards
- Andrew McBride on a 70-yard catch and run from Friedrich
- Jamaze Roberts on a 9-yard run
— The first three plays of the second quarter pressaged the rest of the game. On the first play of the quarter, the Mustangs kicked a field goal to tie the score at 13-13 after being unable to get a first down against the Hornet defense. After the ensuing kickoff, Athens shredded the Mustang defense on an 82-yard scoring run by Nathan Sims, but that play was called back for a holding penalty. No matter, on the very next snap Jerquindon Taylor ran 91 yards for a touchdown and the rout was on.
— If you were at the game, I hope you took a few plays to watch something other than the ball. The offensive line played very well and I really enjoyed watching the running backs block for each other. Even though we all cheer for the spin moves and the explosive runs, it is the blocking that makes the offense go.
— The defense started a little slowly and gave up 13 points in the first quarter, but then took control and held the Mustangs to just 11 points the rest of the way. The Mustangs might not of have gotten that many points if they didn’t have an amazing placekicker. Andrew Nava knocked through two field goals of 44 yards and one of 40.
— Key to the defense shutting down the Mustangs were takeaways. The Hornets came away with four turnovers from four different players.
- Kenshawn Barron with a fumble recovery
- Jaylynn Gualdarama with an interception
- Michael Alvarado with a fumble recovery
- Rhejhi Sherfield with an interception
— There wasn’t much pressure on the special teams Friday night because of the big lead, but they still played well. It is interesting to watch the Hornets kick off because they are the only team I remember ever seeing line up two kickers on the same play, one right footed and one left footed. They were “this close” to getting an onside kick against the Mustangs.
— Athens PA announcer Eugene Buford dropped another classic call last night. In the third quarter with the game well in hand and the Mustangs facing a third and short, Buford announced, “Third and short is what Sleeping Beauty called Grumpy.”
— Next week the Hornets will be on the road at Midlothian Heritage. They will return home in two weeks to take on Quinlan Ford on Oct. 26.
(Follow Michael on Twitter and Instagram @mvhannigan)
