Quarterback Hunter Moore of East Hamilton High School tries to avoid a sack by Signal Mountain’s Drew Chambers in the first half of their season opening game on Friday night at Signal Mountain High School. The Eagles were the 2010 State Champions for their division.East Hamilton was geared up to stop Signal Mountain’s touted counter play, but Zack Bowman scored two touchdowns straight up the middle behind center John Evans and Signal Mountain rolled to a season-opening 34-13 home win over the Hurricanes.
The Eagles offense was more stop-and-go than the point-a-minute state championship bunch of 2010, fumbling twice inside East Hamilton’s 30.
“We will be better next week,” Signal coach Bill Price vowed. “You know how it is with that first game. They’re always difficult.”
First-year quarterback Reese Phillips appeared to have shaken the early jitters, tossing a 13-yard touchdown pass to Will Queen to give the Eagles an early 6-0 lead. He also threw a second-quarter 5-yard scoring pass to Andrew Price that boosted the Eagles to a 13-7 lead.
“We did OK,” the 6-foot-3, 215-pound junior QB said. “I had a couple of dropped snaps and that really aggravates me. We’ll be better, though, because we saw plenty to work on.”