Warriors wreck Rocky Mount's homecoming
October 18, 2009 Rocky Mount High School
By Tom Ham
Wilson Times
ROCKY MOUNT -- Tyrell Applewhite, Zack Lee, Zack Bunn, Cameron Williams and the remaining Hunt High varsity football seniors no longer have to be concerned with the dubious distinction of never defeating Rocky Mount during their careers.
A cold, windy Friday evening in Rocky Mount's stadium was likely their last chance and the Warriors responded by wrecking the Gryphons' homecoming with a resounding 28-14 3-A Big East Conference triumph.
Hunt conquered Rocky Mount for at least the first time since 2001 in climbing to 5-3 overall and to 2-0 and to a share of first place with Southern Nash in the Big East. The Gryphons dipped to 3-4 and 1-1, respectively.
"This is very gratifying," commented elated Hunt head coach Randy Raper. "It was a long time coming. We have played them some tough games, some close games. Tonight, we got some breaks and things went our way. At this point in time, this is probably one of the best games we have played in total."
Applewhite and Lee were joined by junior running back Caleb Bass and junior wide receiver Tyrell Vinson in stepping up as big-play performers. The Warriors erased a 7-0 deficit with 28 unanswered points. Their offense came to life after going without a first down the first 18 minutes, and the defense produced two touchdowns.
Hunt's first score came from Vinson on a sensational over-the-head pass reception from sophomore quarterback Jacob Page. The play covered 37 yards and senior Harry Lamm kicked the first of two extra points in as many attempts.
Vinson then concluded the Warriors' scoring with a 72-yard return of a pass interception with 7:57 remaining, Bass leaped over a pile of players for the two-point conversion.
Of the TD reception, Vinson reviewed: "I told Jacob to read what I do and put it up in a good spot. Once I located the ball, I knew I could go for it."
Of the TD interception, he added: "I read the quarterback well. Once he threw off his back foot, I knew the football was mine."
The most stunning big play arguably belonged to Applewhite some three minutes after Vinson's opening TD in the second quarter.
Applewhite's jarring hit forced Rocky Mount running back Marquavis Alston to bobble the ball. Then, Applewhite took the ball from Alston's grasp and rumbled 51 yards for the TD.
After Bass' fumble thwarted a Hunt march to open the second half, Bass bounced back with a dazzling scoring play.
Bass, after the handoff from Page, started left, looked right, sidestepped a couple of defenders, slid toward the right sideline, turned the corner and darted 38 yards for the TD.
Lee halted an early Rocky Mount threat with an interception. He was joined by Bunn, Applewhite, senior Jazzy Kirby, junior Jarel Fuller, senior Sam Strickland and junior Spencer Miller in turning in stalwart defensive efforts.
Behind the determined running of Williams and Bass, the running game produced 166 yards after being limited to 29 the first half.
"We didn't do anything different," Raper contended. "We were getting off the ball a little harder. The tailback blocked, the fullback blocked and the receivers blocked. The offensive line stepped up and really took control of the game."
After being turned away upon possessing the football at Hunt's 21-yard line, the Gryphons took a 7-0 lead with a grinding march that ended with senior Jordan Ford's 6-yard burst.
After senior Marcus Jones' kickoff return to Hunt's 17-yard line, the Gryphons notched their final TD on Alston's 1-yard plunge with 5:58 left.
"Hunt is a very good football team," said first-year Rocky Mount head coach Dickie Schock. "They were big up front and all over the place. Against that, you have to counter with other things and protect the football. That didn't happen tonight." |
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