Hornets sting Eagles 41-6, Houston returns to sideline this week

Ohio County running back Jon Kinison is brought down by several Hornet defenders during the first half of the Eagles’ 41-6 loss to the Hornets Friday night in Hawesville.

Hancock County took advantage of five Ohio County turnovers and got a huge offensive game from sophomore Beau Case in beating the visiting Eagles 41-6 Friday night at Hawesville.  Case scored on two pass receptions, a long run, and returned an intercepted pass for another touchdown to lead the Hornets (1-1).

A recap of Friday’s significant plays:  1st quarter — Hancock County holds Ohio County on downs, taking the ball at the Hornet 38; Hancock County’s Justin Hamilton scores on a nine-yard run, Desmond Clarkson kicks the point after touchdown (HC 7, OC 0); Hancock County again holds Ohio County on downs, taking over at their own 47; Ohio County’s Drew Turner intercepts a Koert Morris pass, returns to the HC 43; Morris intercepts a Jake Griffin pass at the HC two-yard line; Hancock County’s Case scores on a 90-yard pass play from Morris, Clarkson kicks the PAT (HC 14, OC 0).

2nd quarter — Eagle Jon Kinison muffs punt, with Hornets recovering at OC 42; Case scores on a 24-yard run, a pass for the PAT fails (HC 20, OC 0); Hamilton returns an OC punt 59 yards for a touchdown, Clarkson kicks PAT (HC 27, OC 0); Clarkson intercepts J.Griffin pass, returns to HC 40.

3rd quarter — Case scores on a 52-yard run, Clarkson kicks PAT(HC 34, OC 0); Morris fumbles, Eagle linebacker Colton Black recovers at HC 44; Hornet Karl Kreisle fumbles, Eagle defensive back Bo Bennett recovers at OC 47; Ohio County loses ball on quarterback/fullback exchange, Hancock County recovers at midfield.

4th quarter — Case intercepts J.Griffin pass, returns it 50 yards for touchdown, Clarkson kicks PAT (HC 41, OC 0); Ohio County defense holds Hancock County on downs, taking over at OC 47; Eagle Sam Griffin scores on five-yard run, PAT wide right (HC 41, OC 6).

Total yardage:  HC 303, OC 181.  Rushing: HC 40/174, OC 44/114.  Passing: HC-Morris 5/9/145 (1 int.), OC-J.Griffin 4/22/67 (3 int.).  First downs: OC 12, HC 8.  Penalties: HC 6/50, OC 5/38.  Fumbles lost:  HC 2, OC 2.  Punting:  HC-Clarkson 4/36.3 avg., OC-Bennett 6/28.7 avg.  Leading rushers: HC-Hamilton 15/76, Case 2/53, OC-S.Griffin 17/95.  Leading receivers: HC-Case 3/130, OC-Bennett 2/36, Kinison 1/18, Lambrich 1/13.

When asked to comment on Friday’s outcome, OCHS assistant coach Larry Griffin said, “We just got outplayed.  We came out flat, we’ve had trouble with that all year… (Against Muhlenberg) we were able to recover there and get the momentum turned, but here we weren’t.  Turnovers are hampering us…we’ve got a few players who are out, that’s not an excuse, but we just defensively knew everything they were going to do and we had some poor tackling and just couldn’t get the job done, just that plain and simple…(Hancock County) Coach (Chris) Morris has done a great job with this team…our front line on either side of the ball did not play well…there’s some things we’re gonna come out of this with, first of all, is how to approach a game…(we’ll) definitely (have to) against Caldwell County, which is a very good quality team. We’re going to have to approach this game with a different attitude.”

One player Griffin had specific praise for was freshman defensive tackle Jesse Brown who recorded two quarterback sacks in the first half and added another tackle for loss in the second.

Ohio County’s Trevor Dixon suffered an apparent low back injury on Hamilton’s second period punt return for a touchdown.  Taken from the field by ambulance, he was evaluated at OMHS, and was able to go home that night.

It was learned Friday that Coach Todd Houston’s suspension was reduced by the KHSAA from three games to one, meaning the Eagle head coach will return to the OCHS sideline next Friday night when his team travels to Princeton to face Caldwell County at Tiger Stadium.

“Ohio County High School is pleased with the KHSAA ruling and anxious to have this unpleasant episode behind us,” Ohio County athletic director Charles Patton said. “It’s time to move forward and concentrate on the remainder of the season and enter district play.”

Caldwell County, like the Eagles, enter Friday’s clash with 1-1 marks.  The Tigers whipped Union County 45-15 Friday night in the National Guard Bowl at Crittenden County High School.