Special teams, defense set stage in HVA rout of ’Canes; Hawks begin the season 2-0
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Hardin Valley Academy defenders Tommy Joseph (11), a senior linebacker, and Brody Lamb, a sophomore defensive back, bring down a Morristown East ballcarrier. - Photos courtesy of Jeremy Wiggs/Jeremy Wiggs Photography
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Nathan Holbrook (41), senior linebacker, strips the ball away from a Morristown East receiver. - Photos courtesy of Jeremy Wiggs/Jeremy Wiggs Photography
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Hawk Brady Hogrefe, left, tries to power through a Hurricane defender’s arm tackle attempt. - Photos courtesy of Jeremy Wiggs/Jeremy Wiggs Photography
MORRISTOWN — While special teams and a defensive touchdown set the stage for a blowout, Hardin Valley Academy’s offense also contributed big in a 36-10 Hawks rout of homestanding Morristown East (0-2) Thursday evening, Aug. 24.
Hardin Valley’s 2-0 season start matches the program’s win total the previous two years combined.
Using a bad snap on a MEHS punt for a safety, but giving up a field goal and trailing 3-2 after one quarter, HVA used a Brady Miner funble recovery to take the lead for good.
Seniors Brady Hogrefe and Cooper Rittenberry did most of the offensive damage on the ground before Hogrefe scored from 3 yards out. The first of Nathan Holbrook’s four extra point conversions made it 9-3 Hawks with 7:54 left in the first half.
Though the Hurricanes drove to the HVA 29, a interception-turned-touchdown by sopohomore defensive back Taa Henderson suddently had the Hawks up 16-3 with just 1:36 left in the first half.
But Hardin Valley wasn’t done scoring before the break. A blocked punt was recovered in the end zone by Miner, a senior defensive back, with just 14 seconds left in the quarter, increasing the lead to 23-3.
Rittenbury’s 76-yard kickoff return to start the third quarter set up a short touchdown run making it 30-3.
Senior Brady Loveland’s 70-yard scoring scampre with just 1:48 remaining in the game closed out the scoring.
