Observations from the Hornets' win over Waxahachie Life
The Athens Hornets benefited from big plays on both sides of the ball Friday night on their way to a 48-20 win over Waxahachie Life. The win improves the Hornets’ record to 2-0.
Here are some observations as I go through my notes the morning after.
-- This is the second straight year the Hornets played Waxahachie Life in the Mustangs’ stadium, and while the outcome was different there was one very familiar aspect of the game: the yellow littering the field. Maybe it is because of the proximity to Dallas, but those officials love to throw flags. This year, Waxahachie Life was called for 14 penalties and Athens had 12.
-- Once again, the Hornets proved to be a second half team. Athens took a 14-7 lead into halftime before blowing the game open. You have got to give Coach Zac Harrell and his staff credit, they know how to make adjustments.
-- There were a bunch of big plays on the offensive side of the ball.
Jarred Duff had catches of 34 and 35 yards.
Nathan Sims had runs of 56 and 65 yards.
Daniel Stanley had a run of 63 yards.
Dre Thompson had a catch of 27 yards.
Hunter White had runs of 22 and 23 yards.
-- BTW, did you notice that freshman running back Hunter White is also a defensive tackle?
-- Big plays on the defensive side of the ball included:
Gage Friedrich had a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Connor Clay had a fumble recovery that started a scoring drive for Athens.
Cedric Lowe had an interception in the end zone off a tip from Zay Hull.
-- Talk about a nose for the ball, Gage Friedrich had a fumble recovery last week to go with this week’s interception, and Connor Clay has fumble recoveries in two consecutive games.
-- Did you notice the timing on the 7-yard pass completion from Ty Arroyo to Caleb Bennett in the first quarter? Arroyo threw the ball before Bennett made his cut to the sideline, putting the ball right on the receiver. Great job by Bennett tracking and catching the ball in a split second.
-- Special teams were a plus for the Hornets for the second straight week. The kicking game is going to be a big weapon for Athens this year.
-- Speaking of the kicking game, give credit to the three players who make up the extra point and field goal specialists: Long snapper Quentin Hensley, holder Timber Crouch, and placekicker Cesar Martinez.
-- Last, and probably least, did you catch some of the things the stadium announcer said Friday night? He definitely got tired of all the flags and dropped two “not to beat a dead horse, but” phrases. After another flag, he said the Athens coach might be “mad as a hornet’s nest.” And finally, in one I had never heard before, on a 1st and 25 for the Hornets he said Athens had “first and a pasture to go.”
Until next week, Hornet fans.
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