Longhorns thump Sumter 47-7, remain unbeaten

October 25, 2013October 26, 2013 Danny Smith AISA, Alabama, football, Linden, Longhorns, Marengo Academy

Before the coin toss, the official had the captains wave to the camera!

LINDEN – Taking advantage of a mistake-prone Sumter Academy Eagle offense early, Marengo Academy’s Longhorns cruised to a 47-7 win and a 9-0 record at Linden Athletic Field Friday night.

Sumter fumbled on four of its first six offensive plays, losing three of those miscues which led to easy Longhorn touchdowns. After avoiding disaster on the first play of the game by recovering its own fumble, the Sumter offense coughed the ball up again on the next play and Marengo’s Hayden Hall recovered at the Eagle 12. On Marengo’s first play, Shade Pritchett took it in from the 12, and Brant Lewis kicked the PAT to stake MA to a 7-0 lead a mere 1:02 into the contest.

Once again, sophomore Hayden Huckabee slips through the opponent's hands. — Once again, sophomore Hayden Huckabee slips through the opponent’s hands.

Less than a minute later, the Horns had doubled the lead. On the first play following the kickoff, Sumter again put the pigskin on the ground and Tyler Barkley pounced on the loose ball at the 16. Two plays later, with 10:02 remaining in the first, Hayden Huckabee scored on an eight-yard run and Lewis again kicked the extra point.

On the following series, Sumter ran two offensive plays before fumbling again on third down. This time, Lewis recovered for MA, and Huckabee connected with Cason Cook on a nine-yard touchdown pass moments later to extend the lead to 21-0 after Lewis’ kick.

Cameron Peppenhorst looks up field after getting the ball from Robert Tutt (12).

The Longhorns added a 73-yard Huckabee run and a 60-yard Wyatt Hale scamper set up by a Alston Dinning interception prior to the end of the first quarter.

“We wanted to come out with intensity and maintain it,” said MA head coach Robby James of his squad’s first quarter success. “Our goal is to get better each week. I think we came out and played well. We’ve just got to keep executing and play hard.”

Marengo added a second quarter score – a 64-yard Huckabee punt return – and a fourth quarter touchdown on Robert Tutt’s 57-yard pass to Andrew Martin.

Tait Sanford records a sack for Marengo.

Martin’s score was his second big play of the game – his interception at the MA one-yard line ended a Sumter threat with 1:41 remaining before the half.

Sumter’s lone score came with less than a minute to play when Madison Hendry punched it in from the 1.

“We were able to play a lot of young people tonight,” said James. “We’ve got one more regular season game, so we just want to keep everybody healthy and get ready for the playoffs. We’ve got home field advantage, and we’re looking forward to it.”

Andrew Martin leaps through the air to intercept a pass at the one yard line.

Marengo will travel to Southern Academy in Greensboro Friday night.

Against Sumter, Huckabee had an even 100 yards on four carries – a 25-yard average. Weldon Aydelott ran for 95 yards on 11 carries, while Wyatt Hale added 64 yards on two attempts – an even more remarkable 32-yard average.

Through the air, Tutt and Huckabee were both 2-for-2 for a total of 79 yards.

Defensively, Will Allen had seven tackles and two assists, while Carson Huckabee, Hall and Thomas Etheridge each had four stops with two assists.

MA outgained Sumter 334 yards to 166, although the Horns’ quick-strike offense allowed for only six first downs to SA’s nine.