By Lee Trawick
Riverbend News
Lafayette High School Hornets football team traveled to Dixie High School to take on the Dixie High School Bears in a league conference match up at Bruce Boyette Stadium on Friday, Oct. 9.
The Hornets and Bears both came into the game riding high off the back of big wins over Branford and Trenton.
Coming into the game, the Hornets were aware of the Bears’ physicality up front as well as their speed on the outside at the skill positions. Coach Garland had a game plan to spread out the Bears sideline to sideline in hopes to open up the running game.
The Bears were fully aware of the Hornets running attack led by Mario Thomas. Their plan coming into the game was to stop #8 Thomas, and make the rest of the Hornets beat them.
With great talent spread all over the field on both sides, the packed out crowd was anticipating a hard fought close game from both teams.
The Hornets started with the ball at mid field. Thomas led the Hornets onto the field, but their first drive ended with a deflected pass right into the hands of the Bears defensive back Brandon Hall, who then returned the ball deep into Hornet territory, setting the Bears up with a short field to work with.
The Bears wasted no time, capitalizing on the turnover. Junior running back Chris Staples took the hand-off around the right side for the first touchdown of the night.
Things only went downhill from there for the Hornets, as the Bears scored on all five of their drives in the first half, making the score 35-7 at halftime. The Hornets could not account for the whereabout of #4 Brandon Hall, as he had his way with the Hornets secondary and special teams unit. The Hornets tried to strike back just before halftime, after a hard fought drive landed the Hornets at the Bears one yard line before a penalty pushed them back to the 15 yard line as time was expiring. The hornets tried to kick a field goal as time ran out but was unsuccessful.
The Bears came out the second half with the ball first. After a great kickoff return that set the Bears up at mid field, the Bears took advantage and made quick work of the Hornets’ defense scoring on a four-yard run up the middle for their final touchdown of the night to make the score 42-7.
Thomas led the offense with 98 yards rushing, including a 49-yard touchdown run for the Hornets, the only score of the night. The rest of the Hornets combined for only 53 yards of offense on the ground. The Hornets were unable to get their passing game going.
On the defensive side of the ball, Junior Isiah Cook led the Hornets with 10 tackles as he and a host of Hornets fought to try and contain the Bears’ offense. Also with big plays on the defensive side of the ball were Blake Adams and Elijah Clay. However, Bears were able execute their game plan all night, and frustrated the Hornets’ offense and defense. The Bears accumulated 150 yards in the air, and 229 yards on the ground. For a total of 379 yards of offense. While the Hornets could only manage a total of 166 yards for the night.
“Their speed gave us some troubles, we can't simulate that type of speed in practice,” said Coach Garland. “They also do a great job running their stuff, they execute very well, they block very well and the quarterback does a great job reading number four, which is by far the best player we've seen all year. I think we had a few things go bad early that gave them some momentum. But, our guys kept fighting, they kept battling and I'm proud of that. We now have to get ready for Maclay for Homecoming and just keep trying to improve and get better for the playoffs.”
Up next is Homecoming for the Lafayette Hornets as they will host the Maclay High School Marauders on Friday, Oct. 16. The Marauders are 2-3 on their season and coming off a 26-0 loss from St. John Paul II High School. The Hornets’ record is now 3-2 on the season.