New Hope rolls

Published 12:31 am Friday, October 1, 2010

New Hope needed little motivation en route to a dominating 30-12 victory Thursday night at North Whitfield in eighth grade Whitfield County Middle School Athletic League football action.

“I started to put in some film for them to watch in preparation, and they did not even want to watch it,” Kodiaks coach T.J. Moore said. “They were obviously ready. This was easily our best game.”

Jamon Horne, a quarterback/tailback, led the scoring parade for New Hope (2-1) with 18 points. His production came on touchdown runs of 64 and 4 yards, and he ran for three two-point conversions.

Despite such offensive figures, Horne, who also plays defensive end, said, “I prefer defense. I like to hit people. On offense, our line did a great job of blocking.”

Tailback Cesar Orejel bulled his way for 141 yards on 15 carries, including a touchdown. He also displayed versatility as a linebacker and punter and also kicked off for the Kodiaks.

“I find the energy to help my team,” the burly 190-pound Orejel said. “We knew that it would be a tough fight against our rival.”

Horne joined Orejel as a triple figure rusher with 100 yards on six carries.

“We thought that we could run off tackle on them,” Moore said. “When they adjusted to that, we were able to go outside.”

New Hope’s 222 offensive yards all came on the ground against overwhelmed North Whitfield (1-2). Meanwhile, New Hope’s defense limited the Pioneers to a minus-6 yards rushing.

However, North Whitfield quarterback Kip Davis accounted for 124 yards passing on 11 of 18 completions. That included 72 yards’ worth to Josh Foxx and 41 yards to Michael Cantrell — each on four catches.

“Our defense played well, but the boys are disappointed that they have been scored on in every game,” Moore said. “They allowed no points as seventh graders last year in six games.”

Moore praised both tackle Edwin Hernandez and cornerback Jackson Sheppard.

New Hope’s defense came up with the game’s first points in the second quarter as Carroll Jackson recovered a Pioneers fumble in the end zone. Horne ran his first two-pointer for an 8-0 lead.

Coach Chip Fleming’s spirited Pioneers immediately responded with a six-play, 69-yard scoring drive — keyed by Davis’ 47-yard strike to Foxx that reached the 17. The touchdown came on Davis’ 14-yard pass to Triston Blansit.

Holding a slim 8-6 advantage, Horne got loose on a keeper off left tackle for his long touchdown gallop and added a two-point run and a 16-6 score with 46 seconds left until halftime.

Edwin Hernandez set up the Kodiaks’ next score by blocking a punt early in the second half which put the ball at the 4. One snap later, Davis cruised into the end zone.

Mishandling a punt attempt later gave New Hope another short field at the 17, and Orejel scored on a 6-yard run.

Chris King closed out the game’s scoring in the fourth quarter with a 1-yard run.

• Eastbrook 20, Valley Point 20: The Mustangs’ Ramiro Guerrero made a run inside the Green Waves’ 15 on the final play of the game, but the two Southeast Whitfield feeder schools’ game ended in a tie.

Guerrero had 225 yards rushing on 15 carries for two touchdowns for Eastbrook (1-1-1), while Chaz Payne accounted for another touchdown run and a two-point conversion.

Trey Weaver had three touchdown runs for Valley Point (1-1-1), including a 52-yard touchdown catch from Devin Walden, who also passed to Cory Barnes for a two-point conversion.

• Dalton 42, Lake Forest 0: In a game played at Harmon Field, Eder Mora had two interceptions, one for a 40-yard touchdown for the Cougars (4-1). Mora also added a 1-yard touchdown run and completed a 35-yard halfback pass for a touchdown to Peter Sigmon.

Payton Veraldi contributed a two-point conversion pass to Sigmon, and another to Sam Beard in the second quarter. Kelvis Rhodes had a 5-yard touchdown run and Morgan Craig added a 23-yard touchdown run. Sigmon also contributed a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown while Piko Rodriguez had an interception.

• Westside 12, Gladden 0: Clay Phillips punched in a touchdown from 2 yards out, while Mason Allen galloped past the defense for an 11-yard touchdown for the Rockets (3-0).

• Christian Heritage coaches did not report results from a scheduled game against the Crown Knights.

Seventh grade

• North Whitfield 22, New Hope 16: North Whitfield (2-1) received two touchdowns from Salvador Barragan, who had a 16-yard run and caught a 40-yard pass from Luke Brock. Josue Dominguez raced 70 yards with a kickoff. Daniel Dodson ran in a pair of two-pointers.

The scoring for New Hope (0-3) was supplied by Cameron Heard (2-yard run) and Austin Morrison (15-yard run and two-point run). A team safety also figured into the equation.

• Valley Point 36, Eastbrook 20: Will Swantic ran for three touchdowns and passed for two more as the Green Waves (3-0) beat the Mustangs (0-3).

Swantic passed for two touchdowns to Colter Faith and the pair also combined on a two-point conversion pass. Eastbrook’s Jose Flores had 150 yards rushing for two touchdowns and a two-point conversion.

• Dalton 46, Lake Forest 7: Darien Hill scored on two long touchdown runs as the Cougars remain undefeated.

Drake McCowan had one touchdown run and four two-point conversions for Dalton (3-0-2). Other Cougars touchdowns were scored by Jase Chastain, Josh Moreno and Travis Nielson, while Jordan McKinney scored on a two-point conversion.

• Westside 28, Gladden 0: Kyle Fleming sparked the scoring for the host Rockets with a 68-yard touchdown run, while Angel Ramirez added a 15-yard touchdown run and Alejandro Coronel had a 5-yard scoring run.  

Fleming, Ramirez and Coronel all added two-point conversions for Westside (3-0). Matthew McTaggart (two sacks), Mason Shepard (two sacks) and Dakota Ware also contributed great defensive play.