Houston Hicks has so much confidence in his supporting cast, the Boyd Buchanan senior quarterback feels he simply has to manage the game well from behind center.
On senior night for the Buccaneers in the opening week of the TSSAA regular season, both of Hicks’ completions went for scores to classmates Darin Shannon and Hudson Wamack, who each also had an interception in Friday’s 26-7 home win over Chattanooga Prep.
Wamack’s game-opening interception from his spot on defense was soon followed by Hicks rolling out and hitting a leaping Wamack — now at wide receiver — at the front right pylon for a 14-yard touchdown pass.
Meanwhile, Shannon helped seal the outcome against Class 1A’s Sentinels for last year’s Division II-AA runners-up as he took a quick pass to the left sideline and cut inside to outrace the defense for a 57-yard score — the longest play of the night — with seven seconds left in the third quarter. Shannon then picked off a pass on Chatt Prep’s ensuing possession.
“I am really blessed to have been playing with some of these guys for over 10 years now,” said Hicks, who had 108 total yards in the opener. “One of our hashtags is homegrown. One of the best things in the world is playing under the Friday night lights with guys you grew up with.”
The Bucs rushed for 333 yards, led by senior David Green’s 101 on 15 carries.
The Sentinels, who this year have their first senior class, threw for 139 yards in the first half. That included Marcus Jones gaining 83 yards on three catches and a wide-open Jaydan Parker hauling in an 11-yard touchdown pass from Austin Jones that made it 7-all with 7:19 left in the first quarter.
However, the Bucs’ Sabastian “Bash” Jones answered the Sentinels’ lone scoring drive with an explosive 54-yard jet sweep down the right sideline for a touchdown, receiving great blocks along the way and making the back-end defenders whiff on would-be tackles.
Sophomore defensive end Mason Bates starred for the home team in the first half with a half-dozen tackles, including two for loss.
“We have to work way harder at practice and get our chemistry going and not underestimate who we are going against,” said Jones, who rushed for 79 yards in the win. “We have to really buy in starting now.”
Boyd Buchanan coach Gary Rankin called plays from the press box as he continues his recovery from a recent surgery.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.