Hurricanes overpower Cats

If there was anything coach Ted Gatewood would demand from a football team, it would be to line up and play smash-mouth offense.

His East Hamilton Hurricanes did that Thursday night, running for 366 yards on 52 carries in a 31-13 District 6-AA victory over Hixson.

“I thought we moved the ball well, but their offensive line just flat dominated our defensive line and linebackers,” Hixson coach Houston White said.

“The offensive line has been a hard-working bunch for two years now, and they’re working together and getting better,” praised Gatewood, a former offensive lineman at Memphis State. “It helps too that the backs are starting to see the creases and the holes.”

Logan Jackson capitalized on his 14 carries for a personal-best 187 yards, which has to be a record for the second-year school.

“Hixson was explosive on offense. Their quarterback was very good and their backs were really quick,” said Jackson, who doubles as a defensive back. “I thought our defense did a good job shutting down their big plays.”

But while he had a handful of tackles as a defender, his offensive showing set the pace for the Hurricanes’ second 6-AA win.

“It’s the best game I’ve had,” he said. “Much of the credit for that has to go to the offensive line.”

Gatewood and his staff had nurtured the Hurricanes through a 1-9 season a year ago and a 1-4 2010 start as they entered this game. What pleased him most was Friday was their ability to handle adversity.

“We got down early and they did what we have been preaching all along — keep working, keep working together and keep the faith,” he said. “Too, I thought the defense played very well, holding them to six points in the first half.”

Hixson moved well between the 20-yard lines, finishing with a respectable 308 offensive yards.

“We moved the ball well, but we had a turnover deep and we had a touchdown called back,” White said. “We have to look to the guys to correct our execution mistakes. I like the way East Hamilton handled adversity, which we didn’t really do. We didn’t rise up and fight back like I would have expected.”

Hixson jumped ahead when quarterback Randy Boyd scored from 5 yards following an 85-yard return by Gary Cosey on the opening kickoff.

But East Hamilton scored 17 consecutive points on a 9-yard pass from Scott Paone to Dylan Epperson, a 5-yard run by Sean Anderson and a 22-yard field goal by Logan Cornelius. The Hurricanes made it 24-6 in the third quarter on a 3-yard run by Bonza Monroe and got their final score on a 15-yard pass from Paone to Epperson.

Some of their big plays included a 58-yard Paone pass to Brandon Phillips that set up Monroe’s score and a 59-yard run by Jackson that led to the field goal.

Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765.