No. 10 Blackcats sour Hornets’ homecoming

By Jayson Larson Sports Editor

The Mexia Blackcats scored 28 points off four turnovers as they spoiled Homecoming Night in Athens Friday at Bruce Field, 61-22.

The Blackcats — ranked No. 10 in Class 3A this week by the Associated Press — got five total touchdowns from their dual-threat quarterback Trae Davis and two more touchdowns from running back Doug Gentry. Gentry ran for 134 yards, while Davis was 15 of 19 passing for 229 yards. He also ran the ball seven times for 78 yards.

Turnovers plagued the Hornets (1-3) throughout the first half.

Mexia (4-0) got on the board first with 6:44 left in the first quarter on a 6-yard Davis run. Moments earlier, the Hornets caught a break when Blackcat running back Aaron Childs fumbled into the end zone as he was about to score. Tacameo Barker recovered for the Hornets, but on the next play, Randall Gamble lost the handle on his carry and the Blackcats recovered at the Hornet 16. Davis’ scoring run followed two plays later.

Davis’ 37-yard touchdown pass to Jeramee Strain pushed the lead to 14-0 two minutes later after the Hornets lost another fumble.

Mexia made it 21-0 with three seconds left in the first quarter when Gentry — who nearly rushed for 2,000 yards last season —found the end zone from three yards out.

Gentry's 1-yard run with 9:15 left in the second quarter made it 28-0. Again, the points were made possible by an Athens fumble — their fourth of the first half, and third lost.

“I was proud of how our offense moved the ball,” Athens Head Coach Paul Essary said. “I never felt like they were going to stop us on three of four drives, but we stopped ourselves by turning the ball over. You can’t turn the ball over.”

The Hornets got on the board before halftime when Nick Monmouth, Athens' third starting quarterback in the last three games, marched the offense 57 yards in 12 plays. The drive was capped by Monmouth's first touchdown pass of the season, from 26 yards away to Courtney Whitehead. It was Whitehead's second scoring catch of the season.

Athens missed another opportunity for a score a few minutes before, as Kendall Sanders' 88-yard kickoff return for touchdown was called back due to offsetting penalties near midfield.

The Hornets, behind an impressive night from blockers Dillon Wenberg, Cody Walker, Scott Jordan, Felipe Robles, James Marshall, Matt Jordan and others, racked up a season-high 244 rushing yards. Four runners finished with more than 50 yards: Gamble (16 carries, 50 yards); Jonathon Dora (5-61); Cameron Darty (6-66); and Justin Hofstetter (11-70). Dora scored the Hornets’ final touchdown on a reverse from 12 yards out with 1:37 to go in the game.

The Hornets (1-3) return to action next week on the road at Chapel Hill. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. The Hornets are off the following week and begin District 20-3A play Oct. 9 at home against Crockett.