East Hamilton Hurricanes rip Hixson Wildcats, 49-0

photo East Hamilton's Austin Gatewood (10) brings down Hixson's Eric Jones (3) during the first half of play Friday evening at the Hurricanes' home field.

In what amounted to killing a fly with a sledgehammer, East Hamilton clobbered yet another District 6-AA opponent Friday.

What has to be most disheartening for the rest of the league is that this time it was against the only other unbeaten team in the district. So with the district title likely on the line, the Hurricanes proved just how much distance there is between them and the rest of the league by thoroughly pounding Hixson 49-0.

"We've played two other teams that were ranked in the state (Tyner and DeKalb County) and we thought both of those were tough," Hixson coach Jason Fitzgerald said. "But we haven't seen anybody as physical as East Hamilton. That's a complete football team, and they whipped us in every area.

"That's where we want to get to, where they are now."

Through four district games, no 6-AA opponent has come closer than 29 points as Class 4A's fourth-ranked Hurricanes look to defend their district title and earn home-field advantage in the state playoffs.

Following close to a script that has worked most of the season, East Hamilton scored two touchdowns in each of the first three quarters. The Hurricanes have outscored opponents 90-10 in the first quarters this season and against Hixson averaged needing just four plays to score their first six touchdowns.

Their defense, which allows fewer than 100 rushing yards per game, gave up just 81 to the Wildcats. Hixson didn't cross midfield until early in the fourth quarter, reaching the 49. But on the next snap, Wildcats quarterback Gil Brown was sacked for a loss of 5 and Hixson never again crossed the 50.

"We had our work cut out for us because they have a lot of big-play potential and a very talented team," East Hamilton coach Ted Gatewood said. "We knew they had come back in the second half two or three times already, so we really wanted to jump on them early and put them away.

"I thought we did a pretty good job up front of controlling things on both sides."

Senior tailback Logan Jackson surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the second time in three seasons, and he made it look easy. He gained 156 yards on 16 carries, scored four touchdowns by two minutes into the third quarter and sat out the rest of the game.

"We wanted this game pretty bad," Jackson said. "We wanted to come in and play smash-mouth football, and the line did a great job of opening some big holes and making my job easier."

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