By Mike Goodson/Sports Correspondent
Chase Beggs piled up over 200 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns to lead Hokes Bluff to a 21-7 victory over Westbrook Christian on Friday (Nov. 1) in Rainbow City.
“We told Chase [that] we needed 200 yards from him to have a chance to win,” said Hokes Bluff head coach Mike Robertson. “We thought we might be able to run it tonight, and I thought our depth wore Westbrook down a little bit.”
Beggs finished with 35 carries for 253 yards.
Hokes Bluff out-gained Westbrook 330 to 134 yards in total offense. The Eagles also out-rushed the Warriors, 291 to 62 yards.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Eagles’ Dylan Drake returned an interception to the Warrior 17-yard line. Four plays later,Beggs ran it in from three yards out.
Jonathan Pruett added the PAT, and with 4:55 left in the second quarter, Hokes Bluff was on top, 7-0.
Neither offense threatened again in the first half.
Westbrook (5-5, 4-3) finally found pay dirt in the third period when Dylan McClain returned an interception it to the Hokes Bluff 43. Quarterback Will Appleton connected with Brien Welch on a 33-yard gain down to the Eagle 12.
Following a pass interference penalty that moved the ball to the 6, Randy Williams rushed in for the score on the next play, and Chris Underwood’s PAT tied it at 7.
On the first play following the kickoff, Beggs turned the corner on the left side of the Eagle line and exploded through the Westbrook defense for his second touchdown of the game to put the Eagles on top for good, 14-7, late in the third.
After a Westbrook punt, Hokes Bluff drove 65 yards in 11 plays and used 5:26 of game clock for the game’s final points.
Beggs had eight carries for 48 yards on the drive, including a 2-yard touchdown run.