Longhorns stampede Southern, move to 10-0
GREENSBORO — The Marengo Academy Longhorns stamped an exclamation point on their season and the history books as they thumped Southern Academy by a score of 40-0, giving the school its fourth undefeated regular season and first since 1979.
The opening quarter left much to be desired as neither team could make any positive strides offensively. That all changed when the Longhorns put 14 points on the board in a span of 54 seconds. The first score came courtesy of a 10-yard TD run by Hayden Huckabee on the first snap of the second quarter. After a successful PAT by Brant Lewis, Southern looked to respond down 7-0. It didn’t happen.
Marengo’s William Tutt intercepted Clayton Hall’s screen-pass attempt the very next play from scrimmage before returning it all the way down to the Cougars’ 1-yard line. A successful QB sneak and an extra-point gave MA a 14-0 lead. It was a no doubter from that point forward.
The Longhorns next two scores took even less time when they added nine points in an amazing 11 seconds. Defense prompted this outburst after Thomas Etheridge sacked Hall in the end zone for a Marengo safety, putting the Cougars on the ropes. Marengo wasted no time with the knockout punch as Shade Pritchett scurried 58 yards down the sideline for the touchdown. Lewis would again center the up-rights giving MA a commanding 23-0 lead with 7:00 left in the second quarter.
Ralph Langley capped an efficient drive for the Longhorns’ next and final score before half. Langley’s 7-yard TD run along with Lewis’s successful extra-point gave MA a lead of 30-0 heading into intermission.
Hopes of a second-half comeback were immediately dismissed thanks to a 63-yard kick-off return by Shade Pritchett to open the third quarter. Another PAT conversion from Lewis put the score at 37-0.
The remaining 11 plus minutes of the contest saw the Longhorn starters cheering from the sidelines.
The Longhorn reserves were able to put together a long and good looking drive, setting up the strong footed Lewis for a 27-yard field goal attempt. Just as he did all night long, Lewis banged it through, giving the Longhorns a 40-0 advantage with 3:52 left in regulation.
The game totals were lopsided as Marengo bested Southern in total yardage earned with 256 compared to 46. The Horns’ defense allowed only 33 yards rushing and two first downs.
Huckabee led Marengo’s rushing attack as he finished with 100 yards on six rushes and one score.
Pritchett’s nice outing saw a total 129 yards earned, 66 rushing on three carries and 63 from special teams. He finished with two end zone trips.
Langley also had a nice average as he totaled 20 yards on five carries and one score.
Etheridge and Carson Huckabee led the Longhorns’ defensive attack with seven tackles each; Pritchett had six takedowns and Tutt ended the night with four tackles with one interception.