Athens Runs Wild in 42-0 Shutout of Spring Hill

LONGVIEW -- Through two games, the Athens Hornets have shown they can run the football quite effectively.

The Hornets improved to 2-0 on the season and rushed for 438 yards in a 42-0 win over the Spring Hill Panthers Friday night on Homecoming Night at Panther Field. Spring Hill dropped to 1-1 .

Athens junior running back Devin Hall had one of the best nights of his young career, toting the ball 19 times for 178 yards with three touchdowns. He might have easily crossed the 200-yard mark had Athens head coach Paul Essary not opted to pull most of his offensive starters late in the third quarter.

All told, 11 backs got at least one touch for the Hornets, who last week exhibited a powerful running game that helped them defeat Kaufman in the season opener at Bruce Field. Sophomore fullback Logan Fuller, who had 117 yards in that victory, went for 94 and two scores against Spring Hill.

The Hornets defense put on just as impressive a show. En route to getting the shutout, the Hornets intercepted Spring Hill quarterback Jacob Rooney three times and held the Panthers to just five first downs and 80 yards of total offense. One of those first downs came by penalty and two more came in the final minutes of the game.

Athens other scores came on a 36-yard touchdown strike from Anthony Sanders to Travon Fuller in the first quarter and a David Cedillo 20-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

The Panthers, who scored twice in the season opener on defensive touchdowns, are still looking for an offensive groove. Running back Nick McKee had 20 yards on his first two carries and ended up with 58 on 13 totes by the end of the game. Rooney was 5 of 23 passing for 27 yards.