Hornets sting Bearcats 22-6 at Homecoming
Hornets sting Bearcats 22-6 at Homecoming
Photos by Donald Hazel
By Steven F. Meders
Friday night, the Hornet faithful had a long wait for the game to start as the Bainbridge Bearcats were at the Nest for a non-region game. It was after 9 before the kickoff occurred due to a lightning delay.
Hornet Head Coach Dr. Byron Slack said, “It was good to see our offense start fast. We stalled on a few drives, but they did a great job controlling the game. Defensively, the kids played well again. We are still making some mistakes, but the effort was there. We have to focus on continuing to get better.” 
The Hornets won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. Dawson Davis had a nice return out to the 37-yard line. Davis also had several really nice runs. The Hornets moved the ball down the field.
After a penalty, the Hornets were forced to punt. Brooks Moore put the punt inside the 5-yard line. The SWARM Defense worked hard all night.
The Bearcats punted from the end zone, a bad punt, and Cook took over on the Bainbridge 17-yard line. MJ Tippins ran for a first down. Then Tippins ran in from the 3-yard line at 6:15 in the first quarter. Cook went for 2; Elmo Miller ran it in for the 2PT Conversion. 8-0 Cook. Cook was up by that score at the end of the first quarter.
The Hornets were able to move the ball down the field early in the second quarter, with a 3rd down and 6 for the score. Dawson Davis ran it in for the score with 9:44 left in the second quarter. The PAT was good by Brooks Moore, and Cook was up 15-0.
A mistake by Cook gave the Bearcats new life as we fumbled the punt. The Bearcats scored after that Hornet mistake on a 39-yard field goal.
Cook had another nice punt by Brooks Moore. The Bearcats took over on the 37-yard line. No one was able to score for the rest of the half.
It looked like the Hornets were going to push it in for another score, but the Bearcats intercepted the pass. Kyle Terrell made a TD saving tackle. Halftime, 15-3 Cook.
The Bearcats received the second half kickoff. Bainbridge moved the ball well on their first possession of the second half. The SWARM was able to keep them out of the end zone, but they did kick a field goal. On the Bearcats’ first possession of the half, 15-6 Hornets up.
Dawson Davis was a workhorse in the second half. Elmo Miller had several key carries at running back and wildcat. Cook was moving the ball late in the third quarter. The third ended as Cook moved closer to another score.
The fourth quarter started with a Cook lead of 15-6. Cook started the fourth quarter on the Bearcat 16-yard line. Cook just muscled their way in for the score as Dawson Davis ran it in from the 3-yard line. PAT good by Brooks Moore, and Cook went up 22-6. 
The Hornet SWARM stood strong in the fourth quarter. We did have some weird penalties against us. We finished aggressively, and the Hornets got a great win. AJ Scott made a BIG interception to seal the deal.
The Hornets are now 2-0. This Friday, the Hornets will travel to Brooks County to play long time rival, the Trojans. Game time will be at 7:30 p.m.
STATS: Passing J. Joiner 6/9 43 yards, Rushing, D Davis 22/110 yards and 2 TDs, M Miller 12/47 yards, M Tippins 5/24 yards and 1 TD, n Kenney 5/13 yards, J Joiner 3/6 yards, Receiving: M Tippins 4/30 yards, D Davis 1/7 yards and E Wright 1/6 yards.
STATS: Defense. Tkl /SAC/ TFL/ Inteception
J Dawson 4/3/0/3/0, A Scott 3/1/0/0/1, M Merritt 2/1/0/0/0, E Wright 2/0/0/0/0, C Morrison 2 tackles, B Bennett 2/3/0/1/0, N Kenney 1/0/1/1, J Sharpe 1 tackle, M Tippins 1/3/0/0/0, J Covington 1/2/0/0/0, M Miller 1/4/0/0/0, T Merritt 0/2/0/0/0