Eagles steal show during senior night
Published 12:56 am Saturday, October 11, 2008
HOBGOOD-On the night Hobgood Academy was celebrating its seniors it was Northeast Academy’s upperclassmen that stole the show.
Senior Hunter Deloatch scored five touchdowns, including a 95-yard kickoff return, to lead the Eagles in their 66-26 win over the Raiders. Classmate Arch Harrell rushed for 81 yards and two scores. Fellow seniors Brandon Futrell and Jay Baughan and junior Russ Flythe added one touchdown each in the win.
Northeast scored six minutes into the first quarter. Deloatch followed up a 20-yard rush by running the same play, this time for 25 yards and the score. Futrell carried in the conversion for an 8-0 Eagles lead.
Over the next three minutes possession changed three times. Harrell recovered the second Hobgood fumble, caused by a hit from defensive end Zach Mize, setting up Northeast on the Raiders eight-yard line. Two plays later Deloatch, at quarterback, took the ball the final five yards for the score. Hobgood stopped the conversion run but still trailed, 14-0.
Northeast stretched the lead to 20 minutes later when Deloatch intercepted Hank Edmondson’s pass and returned it 45 yards for the score. The conversion run failed but the Eagles held a 20-0 advantage going into the second quarter.
The lead quickly became 28 as Flythe capped off a Northeast drive with a six-yard run. Deloatch carried in the conversion.
Hobgood took over on their own 29 after an 11 yard return by John Peele.
Edmondson connected with Gray Smith for 16 yards and a first down. A holding call against the Raiders combined with two plays for negative yardage brought up third and long. Northeast was whistled for pass interference, giving Hobgood a first down and the ball on the Eagles 42.
Nine plays later Edmonson again threw to Smith and once again flags were thrown as the Eagles received another pass interference call. After losing two yards Edmondson connected with Smith in the end zone for the score and Northeast was hit with their third pass interference call of the drive. The extra point attempt failed leaving Hobgood trailing, 28-6.
The Raiders tried to stop the next Eagles drive, picking off Davis Harrell’s pass, but they were whistled for roughing the passer. A.
Harrell covered the final two yards and D. Harrell carried the conversion in as Northeast took a 36-6 lead at the half.
The Eagles received the opening kickoff in the second half and took the ball 62 yards in eight plays, capped off by Deloatch’s four yard run.
Hobgood blocked the extra point attempt.
A Northeast fumble gave the Raiders possession on the Eagles 44. Smith’s 30 yard reception moved the chains three plays later James Thompson covered the final two yards for the score. The conversion pass was intercepted by James Pope as Hobgood trailed, 42-12.
A. Harrell returned the kickoff twelve yards and runs of 22 yards by Futrell and 12 yards by D. Harrell moved the chains. Three plays later Futrell raced up the left side 27 yards for the score. The conversion pass fell short.
Flythe recovered the onside kick and on the next play A. Harrell broke through the defensive line and raced 47 yards for the score as time expired. The conversion failed, leaving Northeast with a 54-12 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Hobgood scored when Edmondson connected with Gray for a four-yard touchdown. Thompson’s extra point attempt sailed through the uprights.
Baughan, playing under center, took the ball 37 yards for the score to give Northeast a 60-19 lead. Hobgood came back and scored on a 48-yard pass. The point after attempt was good, leaving Northeast a 60-26 lead with 11 seconds left.
That was all it took.
As the clock struck zero Northeast Academy senior Hunter Deloatch left Hobgood defenders in his wake, returning the Raiders kickoff 95 yards to give the Eagles a 66-26 win.