Big Second Half Allows Athens To Pull Away From Kaufman, 44-23

[By Joe Elerson, Athens Daily Review]

ATHENS -- The Athens Hornets rolled away in the second half for a 44-23 victory over Kaufman at Bruce Field Friday night.

With the win, the Hornets improved to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in District 8-4A Division I play. The Hornets are tied with Kaufman as it dropped to 3-5 overall and 2-1 in league action.

The Hornets were led in rushing by senior running back Devin Hall, who finished with 213 yards on 19 carries and one touchdown.

Junior Logan Fuller was held to less than 200 yards rushing for just the second time this season. He finished the game with 155 yards on 25 carries with three touchdowns.

Junior Travon Fuller had 102 yards rushing on six carries.

“It is like I tell you every week, if they take one of them away we have two more who can carry the ball,” Athens coach Paul Essary said. “They came in here with their game plan and we could tell real quick that they were going to try and take (Logan Fuller) away.”

The Hornets opened up the scoring with 7:50 remaining in the first quarter as quarterback Chad Head was able to power his way in from a yard out for the 7-0 lead.

Kaufman then marched down the field on the next possession as Myron Wrenn capped off the drive with a 3-yard touchdown. The Lions then went for the swinging-gate two-point conversion as Jackson Fritz ran it in for the 8-7 lead.

The drive started with a 55-yard reception from Jackson Fritz to Jefferson Fritz.

The Hornets then took at 10-8 lead as David Cedillo booted a 33-yard field goal with 2:44 remaining in the first quarter.

Following another impressive drive by the Lions that started at their 31-yard line, Kaufman marched down the field and Dekembe McCullar capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown. Jackson Fritz ran in the two-point conversion with 9:46 remaining in the first half.

With 5:59 remaining in the half, Logan Fuller scored his 11th touchdown of the season with a 3-yard run.

On Kaufman's next possession, Travon Fuller came up with an interception at the 45-yard line and ran it in to give the Hornets a 23-16 lead at the intermission.

Essary said he was pleased with all three phases of the game Friday night.

“They did a great job of going through the game film with (the coaching staff),” Essary said. “I am proud of every one of them and it was a great team win. They are a physical ball club and we have to get some treatments and get ready for next week.”

In the second half, the Hornets had a 21-yard touchdown run by Hall, an 18-yard run by Logan Fuller and a 3-yard touchdown with 8:14 remaining in the game to wrap up the scoring.

The Hornets will be on the road Halloween night against the Crandall Pirates. The festivities are set to begin at 7:30 p.m.