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by David Burnworth

Last night in Summit Station the home town Hornets of Licking Heights prepared to battle Harvest Prep in a Mid- State Cardinal game. The Hornets came in with a 4-1 record, while Prep limped in at 2-3.

Shawn Smith put the final touches on a six-play sixty-yard drive when he jaunted in from twenty-four-yards out after he secured a bad snap and avoided big Trae Tiller. The point after by sophomore Kevin Carr increased the lead to 7-0 with 10:18 still left in the opening quarter.

Smith would again show his running skills when he took off on a twenty-seven-yard run with 4:42 left in the quarter. The drive would come to a screeching halt when Smith threw an ugly pass into the arms of Devon Wade, a sophomore defensive back.

8:57 was left in the half when the very talented Dan Pennington hit the hole hard as he gained sixteen-yards. The twelve-play seventy yard drive came to a end when Smith connected with Dereke Acosta for a score from fourteen yards out. The point after increased the lead to 14-0 with 7:40 left in the half.

The Prep defense would come up with a sack on Smith when Tiller got tho the quarterback with 3:23 left in the half for a five yard loss. The Hornets would settle on a thirty eight yard field goal by Carr with 1:59 left in the first half of play.

The Warriors appeared to have a touchdown return on the opening kickoff of half number two but a block in the back would erase the score. Casey Hood would connect with Derelle Matthis on a nice pass and catch play, but Matthis put the ball on the ground and the Hornets came up with it.

The Hornets only needed five plays to move fifty-three-yards for its next score. Roy Bias took it the final thirty yards on a nice run. The kick after the score pushed the lead to 24-0.

The Hornets lit the scoreboard up again with 6:47 left in the third quarter when Smith connected with Storm Timson on a forty yard play. After the kick the Hornets all of a sudden had a 31-0 lead.

Hood would throw a pretty pass that was caught by Arcie Sims for a thirty eight yard gain with 6:27 left in the quarter. Hood would hit Mathis for a nice gain and a first down with 4:41 showing on the clock. Hood, who showed at times just how good he can be teamed up with Mathis for a twenty six yard score with 4:36 showing on the clock. The point after by Jonathan Seneda cut the lead to 31-7.

The Hornets have all kind of speed and it showed big time on the ensuing kickoff when Pennington took the ball back forty two yards as he left most of the Warriors kickoff team in the dust. The Warriors defense came up with another sack when Tiller teamed up with Rashawn Winfree to plant Smith in the ground for a nine yard loss. Then with 2:50 left in the exciting third quarter Smith would get sacked again when Archie Sims got to him for a eight yard loss. Ahmed Said would come in to punt for the Hornets and he made his time on the field a good one, with a forty-one-yard kick pinning the Warriors on its own six yard line.

Facing a fourth and three deep in its own territory the Warriors opted to go for it and the Hornets defense made them pay when Phillip Grizer sacked Hood all the way back to the eleven yard line.

The Hornets needed only three plays to go eleven yards for the score and doing the honors for the home team was Roy Bias. The kick increased the lead to 38-7 with 10:57 left in the game.

Hood never stopped trying and with 10:02 left in the game he teamed up with Trotter for a forty-one-yard score. The kick after failed making the final score 38-13.

UNOFFICIAL STATS

HARVEST PREP

47 PLAYS

217 YARDS

PASSING

18-27 2 TD'S

LICKING HEIGHTS

62 PLAYS

389 YARDS

PASSING

14-23 2 TD'S

Tags: high school football