By Fred Gray
What a difference a year, and a couple of good coaches, makes. Last year, when Hedley played Hart, they were beaten by more than 45 points by the Longhorns.
This year, after spotting Hart a six point lead that resulted from a failed onside kick to start the game, the Owls’ defense once again unsheathed its talons and held the Longhorns scoreless for the rest of the game.
Meanwhile, the offense rolled up 331 rushing yards and 132 passing yards on its way to a hard-hitting 48 to 6 victory. The Owls scored 12 points in the first quarter, 8 points in the second quarter, 20 points in the third quarter, and another 8 points in the fourth quarter.
Even though the Hart Longhorns were bigger than the Owls, and as fast as the Owls, Hedley imposed its will on the Longhorns with intense, hard-hitting teamwork. Although Hard opened the scoring with their first drive, Hedley answered quickly and often. Defensively, the Owls were constantly around the ball and gang-tackled, punishing the Longhorns all night long.
After taking Hart’s kickoff following the Longhorn’s only score, Hedley war horse Coltin Kingston let the Owls down the field for the tying score. Following a long pass to Austin Adams to the Hart 8 yard line, Kingston galloped off left tackle for Hedley’s first score.
On their second possession of the night, Klaiton Moore, running hard behind his pads all night long, scored the Owls’ second touchdown with a seven yard sprint around the right side, running over and through the Hart defenders.
After another Diego Vidal Souza kickoff sailed through the end zone, the Hedley defense swarmed the Hart playmakers, and gave the offense the ball at the Hart 20 yard line. Owls’ quarterback Bryan Evans hit fullback Seth Ruthardt with a 15 yard TD pass. Kicker Andy Munoz Aizaga’s PAT was good, and the Owls were up 20-6, with 2:06 left in the first half.
In their first possession of the 2nd half, Coltin Kingston carried the ball six straight times, the last a six yard plunge up the middle for the score, and Hedley was up 26 – 6.
After Diego Vidal Souza once again boomed the kickoff through the endzone, Hart took possession of the ball at their own 20 yard line. On their third play of the drive, Bryan Evans made the first of his three interceptions of the night, and gave Hedley the ball at the Hart 21. On first and 15, Klaiton Moore, again running behind his should pads, with knees churning high and fast, rambled over and through the Hart defenders for 21 yard touchdown run. The PAT was good, and the Owls led 34 to 6, with 5:31 left in the 3rd quarter.
On their next possession of the game, Coltin Kingston again carried the ball multiple times on a drive that ended with an 11 yard touchdown run by Kingston, on a dive play up the middle. With six seconds left in the 3rd quarter, Hedley led 40 to 6.
The Owls scored their last touchdown of the game with 7:26 remaining in the 4th quarter. The drive started with the second interception by Bryan Evans at the Hart 25 yard line. Immediately, Hedley’s Lone Ranger, Klaiton Moore, punished the Hart defenders with a 16 yard run around the right end. Quarterback Bryan Evans then hit Seth Ruthardt with another touchdown pass of 12 yards. The PAT was good, and Hedley led 48 to 6.
Coltin Kingston rushed for 172 yards, three touchdowns, passed for 98 yards, and made 11 tackles on defense. Klaiton Moore rushed for 146 yards, scored two touchdowns and made three tackles on defense.
Bryan Evans passed for 32 yards and two touchdowns, while intercepting three passes and making seven tackles.
Tanner Chambless hit hard all night long, making 10 tackles, and caught several passes for 33 yards.
Seth Ruthardt made five tackles to go along with his two touchdown receptions.
Most importantly, the Owls made a stellar team effort, working together, and having each others’ backs all night long.
Four games into the season, it’s readily apparent that new head coach Darrell Wallace and assistant coach Garrett Bains are coaching good fundamental football, with a focus on playing hard for four straight quarters.
After the game, quarterback/linebacker Bryan Evans commented that the team had bought into the fundamentals that coaches Wallace and Bains are teaching. He added, “The team feels like if they play hard every down, and focus on fundamentals, that they can’t be beat. We may beat ourselves if we don’t focus and play well, but we are a much better team now than when the season started.”
Amen, brother.
This Friday, September 28, the Owls travel to Happy for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
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