PREP FOOTBALL: Spring Creek dominates Hobbton

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on October 3, 2016 8:27 AM

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By JUSTIN HAYES

jhayes@newsargus.com

SEVEN SPRINGS -- The gridiron identity crisis along Highway 111 is over.  

Spring Creek, forced recently by a rash of skill-position injuries to diversify its fast-break offense, returned to letter-perfect form on Friday night, dispatching Carolina 1-A Conference foe Hobbton in runaway fashion, 53-14.  

The shellacking was also the school's first homecoming victory in nearly a decade.  

News-Argus area passing leader Landon Smothers directed the Gators' attack with a keen sense of pre-snap wit, guiding the hosts on balanced scoring drives of 65 and 59 yards in the game's opening quarter.  

Spring Creek, however, was just getting started.

Smothers followed a 90-yard, broken-play touchdown in the second stanza by Hobbton with a 10-yard pylon grab of his own, making the score 20-7 and sending the Wildcats a very clear signal that a road victory was not possible on this night.  

The signal caller finished the first half with a 49-yard touchdown strike to Dominique Morse, who made his first appearance for the blue-and-green in nearly three weeks. It was quite a return for the talented wideout, whose four receptions for 99 yards represented a team high.  

Gator head coach Aaron Sanders was pleased with the performance.  

"Last week, we were down two receivers," the coach said. "And it was nice to get Dominique back on the field... and have our running backs continue to hit the hole hard.

"Praise the (offensive) line... the guys have had to pick up a lot in the last couple of weeks."  

Following intermission, however, matters became messy.

With a low-crawling fog advancing from the south end zone, both teams stalled offensively in the third quarter, combining for just 123 yards of total offense on six possessions -- and a whopping seven penalties.  

JaVon Newsome ended the lull with two minutes remaining in the period, striking paydirt on a bruising, 21-yard scamper that gave the Gators a 33-14 advantage.

From there, Spring Creek (2-5 overall, 1-1 CC) continued its victory march, piling up hashmarks courtesy of Najee Young and Jessie Casper. The duo operated with one-cut elusiveness throughout the final period,  combining for 135 rushing yards on just 10 carries.   

Casper was especially prolific, scoring twice in a 30-second span to draw curtains around a visibly deflated and dispirited Hobbton team.  

Done and done.  

For Sanders, the victory represented balance and offered proof that his Gators -- if healthy -- can be a threat to anyone over the last third of their schedule.  

"We made some mistakes," the coach said. "But overall, you've got to be happy with it."  

CAN I GET A TO?

• Spring Creek stepped in front of two Wildcat passes on the night -- one by Najee Young in the opening quarter, and another by Tyquan Waters to start the second half. The Gators also had a fumble recovered by senior defensive end Demonte Rose.   

HOMECOMING PARADE

OF FLAGS

• It was a busy night for the officiating crew, who policed matters sternly. In total, the zebras tossed a grand total of 21 handkerchiefs on the night.  

COMMITTEE U

• Spring Creek utilized five ball carriers Friday night, stockpiling 291 yards of rushing on 34 carries. Its version of the air raid was comprehensive as well, and saw Smothers utilize seven different receivers on the way to a 13 of 19, 248-yard performance.

REST EASY

• The Gators will have ample time to savor this victory, as their bye week falls next Friday. They return to action Oct. 14 against conference foe Princeton.