Longhorns up to old tricks in Tutt’s debut

September 17, 2015September 17, 2015 Jeremy D. Smith AISA, Demopolis, football, Linden, Longhorns, MA, Marengo Academy, prep sports

9-17-2015 - Linden, Ala. - Marengo Academy's Hayden Huckabee breaks free on a touchdown run against South Choctaw Academy. — 9-17-2015 – Linden, Ala. – Marengo Academy’s Hayden Huckabee breaks free on a touchdown run against South Choctaw Academy.

LINDEN — In its first game under head coach Webb Tutt Thursday, Marengo Academy looked an awful lot like the Longhorn squad that has grown into contender. The Longhorns trampled South Choctaw Academy 41-6 to move to 2-1 on the season.

9-17-2015 - Linden, Ala. - Marengo Academy's Andrew Martin secures his second interception of the night against South Choctaw Academy. — 9-17-2015 – Linden, Ala. – Marengo Academy’s Andrew Martin secures his second interception of the night against South Choctaw Academy.

“We needed a game and we needed a win,” Tutt said, referencing the tumult saw the Longhorns make coaching and administrative changes during their bye week. “I thought our kids, emotionally, were excellent. Physically, we were fine. I’m so proud of them with everything they’ve had to go through.”

The Longhorns scrapped the spread offense from the game plan and reacquainted themselves with the Wing-T that was an Orange and White staple for the last several years.

“The kids understand that. They understand the concept. We had another package, but we didn’t need it,” Tutt said. “The kids did a good job of executing.”

The decision paid dividends for Marengo as it racked up 302 rushing yards on 40 carries and controlled the entirety of the ball game. Marengo covered 68 yards in seven plays on its first drive of the game, capping the effort on a 1-yard plunge by Weldon Aydelott with 7:41 to play in the opening quarter.

Less than a minute later, Andrew Martin stepped in front of a Rebel pass and sprinted 20 yards for the Pick-6, stretching the advantage to 13-0.

9-17-2015 - Linden, Ala. - Marengo Academy's Cason Cook tries to break the grasp of a South Choctaw tackler. — 9-17-2015 – Linden, Ala. – Marengo Academy’s Cason Cook tries to break the grasp of a South Choctaw tackler.

After a three-and-out by the Longhorn defense, Hayden Huckabee exploded for a 62-yard scoring run.

Martin got in on the action again with 1:34 to play when he intercepted another South Choctaw pass and returned it 63 yards for his second such touchdown of the quarter.

“I look at it as a challenge. Motivation,” the diminutive Martin said of other teams’ consistent willingness to throw his direction.

“I promise you if this guy was 6-0, 6-1, 185, everybody in the country would want him. He’s got a heart you can’t measure. He gets mad at himself if he messes up. You really don’t have to coach him.”

The Longhorns closed the first quarter with a 27-0 lead and proceeded to insert reserve players on the offensive side of the ball. Zac Murphy punctuated a nine-play, 54-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run with 7:07 left in the second quarter.

Marengo got its final points on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter, when Huckabee ran for a 45-yard touchdown to set it at 41-0.

Whitt Wilkins scored on a 16-yard run with 10:12 left in the game for South Choctaw’s only points of the evening.

9-17-2015 - Linden, Ala. - Marengo Academy's Zac Murphy attempts to elude a South Choctaw tackler. — 9-17-2015 – Linden, Ala. – Marengo Academy’s Zac Murphy attempts to elude a South Choctaw tackler.

The Longhorns limited South Choctaw to 38 yards of total offense. The Rebels had negative total yardage until the final play of the third quarter. Marengo did not throw a pass, fumble the ball or punt in the contest.

Huckabee led all rushers with 125 yards and two touchdowns on three carries.

“We came into the game thinking we’d get 10 or 15 carries out of him at most because he carried it 37 times last time we played.”

Murphy added 71 yards and a score on 16 runs.

Marengo is set to travel to Patrician next Friday night.