Hargrave Handles Averett with 51-0 Victory
Tigers tame the Cougars with big plays and stingy defense
Danville, VA – It did not take the Hargrave PG Tigers long to get on the scoreboard Sunday afternoon on the campus of Averett University. In fact, it took Hargrave just six plays and less than two minutes before Cedric Hickman found the end zone for the first score of the game.
The Tiger defense was next to put points on the scoreboard when they forced the Cougar punter to mishandle the snap from center resulting in a 2-point safety to give HMA a 9-0 lead early in the ball game.
On the ensuing kickoff it was Adam Stewart who showed a flash of speed. Stewart received the kickoff and returned it 55 yards across the field to take it in for a touchdown and after another Stephen Phillips extra point, Hargrave lead 16-0.
The Tiger defense once again stood tough with a three play and out situation lead by linebackers Mario Harvey, Darius Dewberry, Charles Owens, Rhakeem Smith, Doug Wilson, Chris Jaeger, Josh Soto, and Aaron Horace. Averett was able to get the punt off and Hargrave took over once again this time near mid field.
The HMA offense put up their first pass of the day and it was a success. Quarterback Jarrett Dunston found receiver Vidal Hazelton streaking down the field for a 53-yard touchdown strike, giving the Tigers a 23-0 lead going into the second quarter.
Hargrave once again used a strong defensive effort to tame the Cougar offense. Defensive linemen Jerrell Powe, Callahan Bright, Justin Mincey, Darrius Massenburg, Ernie Hodge, Melvin Alaeze, and Horace Hubbard stymied any attempt for Averett to gain positive yards.
Hargrave received the punt and once again used a 1-play scoring drive when running back Keiland Williams went around the left side breaking a number of tackles and scampering 45 yards for his second touchdown of the season and giving HMA a 30-0 lead.
Kickers Merf Trout and George Pierson handled kickoff duties and kept the Cougar offense in a deep hole after every touchdown scored by the Tigers.
The Tiger defense once again gave the ball back to the offense and this time Hargrave had to work for a score. On the first play of the drive, it appeared to be another one and done situation as quarterback Tim Jones raced 65 yards for what looked to be a touchdown, but a holding call negated the run and HMA had more grass to work with. Cody Slate started it off by catching an out route for 10 yards, and then it was the one-two punch of Morgan Green and Joel Ellerbe that got Hargrave on the board one more time before the half. Ellerbe hit a big run and down on the goal line it was Green who cashed in taking it over the top from 1-yard out. The touchdown and extra point put Hargrave up 37-0 heading into the half.
After the intermission it was much of the same. The Hargrave secondary stepped up as the Cougar offense started to put the ball into the air. Ryan Brinson, Anthony Johnson, Adam Stewart, Ross Hagberg, George Helow, Merf Trout, Corey Goodson, Zaire Kitchen, and Khalil Conteh came up big as Averett tried to make up ground by passing the ball in the second half.
Hargrave took back over after a punt and after a Craig Hayden run, it was running back Mike Ford who broke into the open field and 85 yards later found pay dirt for the score. Offensive linemen John Jerry, Cole Baucom, Darius Myers, Mike Harness, Matt Hardrick, Drew Timme, Andrew Farr, and Brian Kelly opened hole after hole throughout the entire game making it easy for the running backs to run for huge gains. The Mike Ford score extended their lead to 44-0.
The Hargrave defense once again stuffed the Averett offense surrendering less than 25 yards on the ground for the day.
On the next two possessions Hargrave went to the air. Quarterbacks Jarrett Dunston and Tim Jones found receivers Craig Hayden, Joe Nairn, Cody Slate, and Mike Ryder for various gains, but HMA put their final points on the board when Joel Ellerbe ran it in from 2 yards out to give Hargrave a 51-0 lead.
Alfonso Wells, Mike Hazel, and Francis Johns had a few important carries securing the lead and victory for Hargrave.
Stephen Phillips was perfect on the day going 7 for 7 on extra points.
The Hargrave PG’s will be back in action on Saturday September 24th when they host the United States Military Academy (Army). Kickoff is slated for 12:00 pm on the campus of Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, VA.
