CAMDEN — By WADE TOTTY
Staff writer
Homecoming was good for the Harmony Grove Hornets on Friday night at Bill Manning Field as the home team defeated the Centerpoint Knights 50-15 in a 5 AAA conference matchup. A light rain fell during the pregame Homecoming Ceremony in which Queen India Garcia and her court were presented to the home crowd, but the rain stopped shortly thereafter.
Coach Ernie Horstcamp’s squad received the opening kick-off and put together a 68 yard, 6 play drive that was capped by a 39 yard run by Xaylon Falls into the end zone. The two point conversion was successful. The Hornets were up 8-0 with 8:18 to go in the quarter.
The Knights received the kick and started a scoring drive that began at their own 31. Coach Carey Rogers’ team put together an 8 play, 69 yard drive that ended with QB Owen Bright running 6 yards for the score. The 2 point try was good tying the game at 8 with 4:15 to go in the 1st quarter.
Once again the Hornets took the kick and mounted another scoring drive of 63 yards in 7 plays. Shaun Lucas scored on a 4 yard run at the 1:39 mark in the 1st period. The 2 point try was good giving Harmony Grove a 16-8 lead.
The Hornets scored twice in the 2nd quarter. The first came at the 8:54 mark on a 2 yard run for Lucas’ second touchdown of the night. The 2 point conversion attempt failed giving the home team a 22-8 lead. Falls scored his second touchdown on a 17 yard run with 3:01 to play in the half.
The 2 point try succeeded. Harmony Grove led 30-8 at the half.
The second half began with Centerpoint driving the ball from their own 39 to Harmony Grove’s 5 yard line where the Hornets defense stopped them on 4 tries from the 5. The Hornets marched the ball down the field to score again at the 5:26 mark in the third when Kentrell Hill scored on a 53 yard run. The 2 point try was successful. The Hornets led 38-8.
After intercepting a pass the home team put together another scoring drive capped by Falls’ third score of the night on a 6 yard run. The PAT failed leaving the score 44-8. This score triggered the sportsmanship rule that requires the clock to run unless a time-out or quarter break occurs.
The Knights did score again. It happened at the 9:38 mark in the fourth quarter. QB Owen Bright connected with WR Michael Bright on a 39 yard pass and run. The PAT was successful bring the score to 44-15.
The ensuing kick-off was fielded at Harmony Grove’s 20 yard line by Falls who appeared to have stopped for a moment, begin to walk, and then sprint his way to the end zone for the exclamation mark touchdown that gave the Hornets a 50-15 victory over their new conference foe.
After the game, Coach Horstcamp praised his teams great play. He said that Centerpoint did some things on their first scoring drive that his coaching staff had not seen on film, but he praised his team for making the necessary adjustments that kept the Knight’s out of the end zone until the fourth quarter when they scored once the sportsmanship rule had been enforced.
He praised the offensive line for their great play in the contest, and expressed how well the defense did, noting their play carried over from a great week of practice.
He also noted that his offense is playing freer each week as they get better acquainted with the new schemes he instituted when he came on board last spring.
Friday’s win improves the Hornets record to 6-1 on the season and 4-0 in the 5 AAA conference. Centerpoint falls to 4-3 on the season and 2-2 in the conference.
Harmony Grove travels to Fouke next Friday night for another conference matchup. Kickoff is set for 7:00.