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North Henderson hands SM loss on homecoming
North Henderson spoiled Smoky Mountain’s homecoming with a 13-10 Western Athletic Conference football victory Friday at Carr Hooper Stadium/Babe Howell Field.
Justin Lamb gained 73 yards in 18 carries for the Knights, Randy Cox added 63 yards in 11 attempts, and Daniel Henninger finished with 50 yards in 10 tries.
The Mustangs (0-3, 1-8) were led by Zack Watson with 83 yards in 16 carries.
Several Smoky Mountain defenders combine to stop a North Henderson runner in Friday’s 13-10 homecoming loss. – Photo by Mark Haskett
Matt Hawkins completed seven of 20 passes for 93 yards.
North was successful moving the ball on the ground all night. William Hardin ripped off 27 yards on the game’s first play. A 22-yard pass from Cox to Kyle Wolfe, one of just two Knight completions in the game, carried to the 13. On third-and-goal, Hardin fumbled with Ethan Crowe recovering at the 1.
The Knights threatened again after Henninger’s 15-yard punt return to the SM 39, but they turned the ball over on downs at the 14.
Following an exchange of punts, including a 47-yarder by SM’s Grant Schallock, the Mustangs started from their 44. On fourth-and-4, a fake punt was stopped giving North the ball at its 49.
Quarterback Matt Hawkins scores Smoky Mountain’s lone touchdown in Friday’s 13-10 homecoming loss to North Henderson. – Photo by Mark Haskett
Runs of 12 yards by Lamb and 16 yards by Cox keyed the six-play drive that ended with Cox scoring on a 13-yard run around right end. Jackie Corn kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead with 2:26 to play in the half.
Jordan Panther intercepted a halfback pass by Henninger on the final play of the half.
The Mustangs started the second half with an impressive drive from their 27 to the North 18. Highlights included an 11-yard run by Watson and Hawkins passes of 11 and 28 yards to T.J. Bradley. The second pass to Bradley would have given SM a first-and goal inside the 10. However, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty moved the ball back, and the Mustangs settled for Schallock’s 36-yard field goal cutting the gap to 7-3 with 6:49 to play in the third stanza.
The Knights answered with an 81-yard drive in 15 plays. Cox started it with a 25-yard scamper, and Josh Connor picked up 12 yards on fourth-and-4 from the SM 38. Hardin scored from the 3, but Bradley blocked Corn’s PAT leaving the margin 13-3 with 10:37 left in the game.
The Mustangs countered with a 61-yard drive in nine plays. Josh Jones caught a 22-yard pass from Hawkins, and Watson had runs of 10 and 11 yards. Hawkins scored from the 2, and Schallock’s extra point brought his team within 13-10 at the 6:59 mark.
After allowing two first downs, SM forced a punt and took over at its 18 with 1:45 on the clock. Hawkins completed a 14-yard pass to Jared Deitz, and Bradley scooped up a fumbled and ran for 10 yards. A personal foul penalty on that play moved the ball to the Knight 45. However, four passes, including two that were dropped, fell incomplete allowing North to run out the clock.
NH SM
18 First Downs 13
54-260 Rushes-Yds. 30-119
2-5-1 Passing 7-20-0
23 Passing Yds. 93
2-35.0 Punts-Avg. 3-39.7
1-1 Fumbles-Lost 1-0
8-65 Penalties-Yds. 8-70
NH 0 7 0 6 13
SM 0 0 3 7 10
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