By Mike Goodson/Sports Correspondent
Locust Fork proved the old adage on Thursday (Oct. 29) about a game being even on paper and still coming away with a win.
Trailing 21-0 midway through the second quarter, Hokes Bluff eventually tied the game with 2:10 remaining in the game when Bradley Pruett scored on a 44-yard touchdown run.
After 48 minutes, the teams were separated by only five yards and one point.
On the PAT attempt, however, the Hornets’ Drew Rogers broke through the Eagle line and blocked the kick to seal the 21-20 victory for the visiting Hornets.
“I’m proud of our guys,” said Hokes Bluff head coach Mike Robertson. “We had our chances and just couldn’t pull it out. We couldn’t capitalize in the first half, and that was the difference.”
Rogers was the big gun for the Hornets, rushing for 150 yards on 17 carries while scoring two touchdowns. Pruett carried the ball 27 times for 154 yards and one touchdown and caught two passes for 31 yards.
Rogers started the scoring off for Locust Fork (5-5, 3-4) with a 4-yard touchdown run with 2:50 left in the opening quarter. The PAT was no good, and the Hornets led 6-0.
Hokes Bluff (2-8, 2-5) then turned the ball over on downs on the Hornets’ 14-yard line, and four plays later, Rogers raced through the Eagle defense for a 68-yard touchdown run and a 14-0 Hornet lead with 7:01 left in the first half. Quarterback Chase Rice ran in the two-point conversion.
Tyler Boniella interception a pass on the following Hokes Bluff drive, returning the ball 54 yards for a touchdown with 5:06 left in the second quarter to give the Hornets the 21-0 lead.
The Eagles got on the scoreboard with 1:56 remaining in the first half when Landon Johnson connected with Trey Hutchins for a 7-yard touchdown. Pruett’s PAT attempt cut the Locust Fork lead to 21-7 at the half.
The third quarter was a defensive struggle, with neither team able to sustain a drive.
But with 4:28 remaining in the game, Johnson scored on a 7-yard touchdown run to bring the Eagles within 21-14.
Johnson ran for 36 yards on eight rushes and completed 6 of 16 passes for 68 yards.
For the Hornets, Rice completed 2 of 4 pass attempts for 22 yards and gained 90 yards on 16 carries.