Athens Surprises Hallsville To Snap Two-Game Skid

HALLSVILLE – The Athens Hornets came back in a big way Friday in a 32-13 victory against Hallsville at Bobcat Stadium.

Athens head coach Paul Essary said the Hornets will celebrate the victory until about 1 p.m. today when they begin preparation for Rusk.

“To hold Hallsville to 13 points is amazing,” Essary said. “The guys are starting to grow up and you have to have a game like this to make you believe that you can play at that level. Hallsville is a good football team and they will be battling in 5A this year.

I am just so thrilled for the players and the coaches. They have worked so hard and they did a great job responding when no one else believed in them. They came out and played up to the way they should be playing right now.”

Athens pushed its record to 1-2. Hallsville fell to 2-1.

The Hornets enjoyed another strong game from senior running back Logan Fuller with 30 carries for 224 yards and three touchdowns.

Senior Travon Fuller also got over the 100-yard rushing mark with 20 carries for 173 yards and one touchdown.

“We have to be able to do that and they have to compliment each other,” Essary said. “The line and the backs did a great job."

Logan Fuller led off the scoring in the first quarter with a 29-yard touchdown run down the right sideline with 7:17 remaining. Freshman Dakota Anderson booted the PAT good for the 7-0 lead.

Hallsville was able to answer back as senior quarterback Roger McCuller scored on a 10-yard run for the 7-6 deficit.

Travon Fuller extended the lead to 13-6 with 9:22 remaining in the first half with a 4-yard touchdown run.

Logan Fuller came back with another touchdown to open the third quarter, a 47-yard score.

With 4:19 remaining in the third, McCuller answered the touchdown drive with a 32-yard run for a 20-13 deficit.

The Hornets put the game away in the fourth quarter as Logan Fuller scored his third touchdown of the night with a three yard run. The score came with 5:57 remaining for a 26-13 lead.

The Hornets defense allowed 244 yards of total offense to the Bobcats while their own offense accounted for 460 yards.

“Nobody gave us a chance to win," Essary said. "You have to earn the right to get respect. Hopefully we are taking a step to earn some respect back but we have a long ways to go.”

Filed Under: 2015 Week 3 Games, Athens, Hallsville

Categories: Class 4A, Class 5A, Football, News