10-23-15 — Linden, Ala. — Abbeville’s John David Willis (48) is tackled by a host of Longhorn defenders during Friday night’s game against Abbeville Christian in Linden, Ala. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
LINDEN — It was the lowest-scoring game they’ve had since head coach Webb Tutt took the reigns at Marengo Academy this season, but it was enough to overcome an unbeaten Abbeville Christian team Friday night as the Longhorns outpaced and outscored the Generals, 35-12.
The Longhorns got the jitters out on the first possession when Abbeville recovered a Marengo fumble on their own 37-yard line. Hayden Huckabee intercepted a pass from the General quarterback and ran it back to the 40-yard line of Marengo. From there, the Longhorns never looked back.
Quarterback Robert Tutt connected with Andrew Martin for a 55-yard touchdown pass. A successful PAT put the Longhorns up 7-0, wrapping up the first quarter of play.
With 11:03 to go in the second period, Martin found the end zone on a 10-yard rush, putting the ‘Horns up 13-0 after a failed PAT attempt. Weldon Aydelott would also find the goal line on a 1-yard rush, closing out a dominating first half and putting Marengo up 19-0.
The Generals of Abbeville Christian took the opening possession of the second half but they had no answer for a stout Marengo defense, and would ultimately punt after going three-and-out.
Huckabee made it 25-0 with a 1-yard rush, and Tutt found Landon Houlditch just across the goal line for a 2-point conversion with 7:42 remaining in the third.
Abbeville was able to get on the board with 2:47 to go in the third when Devon McCree pulled in a 7-yard pass. A failed PAT left the Generals with six, and they would remain there until well into the fourth, when McCree again pulled in an 11-yard pass, making it 27-12 with 9:49 remaining in the game. With those two touchdowns, McCree rounded out all the scoring his team would be able to muster on the night.
A failed onside kick attempt allowed Marengo to set up shop on the Abbeville end of the field. Martin capped off the ‘Horns scoring for the night when he found the end zone from nine yards out, making it 35-12 with 8:21 remaining.
The ‘Horns would go on to hold the Generals to a four-and-out, and then run out the clock down after taking the possession with around six minutes remaining.
Huckabee led Marengo on offense, touching the ball 25 times for 198 yards and one touchdown. Defensively, Huckabee was able break up a few long passes, and one of those turned into an interception for the senior standout.
“We knew we had to stay deep,” Huckabee said. “We’d watched them on film and they were throwing the deep ball every time, so coach wanted us to make sure we stayed deep.”
Aydelott racked up 82 yards on 19 touches with one touchdown, and Martin had 38 yards on 10 carries, but made those yards count as he found the end zone on three separate occasions. Marengo closed out the night with 429 yards of offense to Abbeville’s 192.
The ground game led the offensive attack for the Longhorns as they amassed 356 yards rushing and 73 yards through the air. Longhorn passers, which included Tutt and Huckabee, went 4 of 6 with one interception.
Leading the Marengo defense were Thomas Etheridge and Aydelott, both with eight total tackles. Tutt and Cason Cook each had seven, and Martin ended the night with six.
Marengo will head to Jackson Academy next Friday. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
10-23-15 — Linden, Ala. — The ball is knocked loose as Marengo’s Weldon Aydelott (35) is tackled by a host of Abbeville defenders during Friday night’s game against Abbeville Christian in Linden, Ala. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-23-15 — Linden, Ala. — Marengo’s Weldon Aydelott (35) slides over the back of an Abbeville defender during Friday night’s game against Abbeville Christian in Linden, Ala. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-23-15 — Linden, Ala. — Marengo’s Hayden Huckabee (18) is tackled by Abbeville’s John David Willis (48) during Friday night’s game against Abbeville Christian in Linden, Ala. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-23-15 — Linden, Ala. — Marengo’s Hayden Huckabee (18) looks for running room as he is pursued by Abbeville’s John David Willis (48) during Friday night’s game against Abbeville Christian in Linden, Ala. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-23-15 — Linden, Ala. — Abbeville’s John David Willis (48) is tackled by a host of Longhorn defenders during Friday night’s game against Abbeville Christian in Linden, Ala. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-23-15 — Linden, Ala. — Marengo’s Weldon Aydelott (35) is tackled by Abbeville’s Brody Tyler (4) during Friday night’s game against Abbeville Christian in Linden, Ala. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-23-15 — Linden, Ala. — Marengo’s Weldon Aydelott (35) runs the ball in Friday night’s game against Abbeville Christian in Linden, Ala. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-23-15 — Linden, Ala. — Marengo’s Hayden Huckabee (18) jumps over Abbeville’s Kros Payne (14) during Friday night’s game against Abbeville Christian in Linden, Ala. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-23-15 — Linden, Ala. — Marengo’s Cason Cook (3) tackles Abbeville’s Griffin Fenn (23) during Friday night’s game against Abbeville Christian in Linden, Ala.(WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-23-15 — Linden, Ala. — Marengo’s Weldon Aydelott (35) squares up against Abbeville’s John David Willis (48) during Friday night’s game against Abbeville Christian in Linden, Ala. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-23-15 — Linden, Ala. — Marengo’s Hayden Huckabee (18) is tackled by Abbeville’s Caleb Tyler (44) during Firday night’s game against Abbeville Christian in Linden, Ala. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-23-15 — Linden, Ala. — Abbeville’s Drex Roach (10) is tackled by Marengo’s Landon Houlditch (80) during Friday night’s game against Abbeville Christian in Linden, Ala.. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-23-15 — Linden, Ala. — Marengo’s Hayden Huckabee (18) runs the ball against Abbeville Christian in Linden, Ala., Friday night. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-23-15 — Linden, Ala. — Marengo’s Hayden Huckabee (18) and Andrew Martin (32) break up a pass intended for Abbeville’s Kros Payne (14) against Abbeville Christian in Linden, Ala., Friday night. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-23-15 — Linden, Ala. — Marengo’s Caleb Broadhead (15) breaks up a pass intended for Abbeville’s Kros Payne (14) against Abbeville Christian in Linden, Ala., Friday night. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-23-15 — Linden, Ala. — Marengo’s Andrew Martin (32) hauls in a 55-yard touchdown pass against Abbeville Christian in Linden, Ala., Friday night. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-23-15 — Linden, Ala. — Abbeville’s Drex Roach (10) attempts to tackle Marengo’s Hayden Huckabee (18) against Abbeville Christian in Linden, Ala., Friday night. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-23-15 — Linden, Ala. — Marengo’s Caleb Broadhead (15) breaks up a pass intended for Abbeville’s Kros Payne (14) against Abbeville Christian in Linden, Ala., Friday night. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-23-15 — Linden, Ala. — Abbeville’s Griffin Fenn (23) is pursued by Marengo’s Zac Murphy (16) against Abbeville Christian in Linden, Ala., Friday night. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
10-23-15 — Linden, Ala. — The Marengo Academy Longhorns take the field against Abbeville Christian in Linden, Ala., Friday night. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
