McEachern defense dominates in Corky Kell-Dave Hunter Classic win over Kell

McEachern rolls to 40-10 win over Kell in Corky Kell-Dave Hunter Classic

For the McEachern Indians, the start of the Georgia High School Association football season begins with their annual appearance in the Corky Kell-Dave Hunter Classic, which they have been a part of every year since the annual events inception in 1992.

On Wednesday, the Indians returned to the “Classic”, facing the Kell Longhorns and looking for their second consecutive season opening win at the event, which pitted McEachern head coach, Kareem Reid against Kell head coach, Bobby May, who succeeded Reid as the Westlake Lions head coach in 2019.

With the first quarter underway, the Longhorns, who were without out Georgia Tech commit, Moonie Gipson would receive the ball first and wasted no time pulling out the trick plays, however after an attempted flea-flicker on the first play of the game, Boston Pierce’s pass would be intercepted by McEachern’s Kayden Battle and the Indians would take over on their own 1-yard line.

On the ensuing possession, the Longhorns defense would force McEachern to punt the ball and would take at the McEachern 32-yard line, eventually capitalizing off favorable field position with a 29-yard field goal by Gabe Fernandez, giving the Longhorns a 3-0 lead.

After receiving the ensuing kickoff, the Indians would need 1:49 and five plays to respond as they would find the endzone on a 16-yard Ty Nolan rushing touchdown and after a two-point conversion would be called back for an offensive penalty, resulting in McEachern settling for an extra point and taking a 7-3 lead.

With Kell’s third possession resulting in their first punt of the night, the Indians would take a 10 point lead thanks to a 58-yard rushing touchdown by junior, Casey Barner, as the extra point put the Indians up 13-3.

The Indians would then score two more times before the Longhorns would eventually find the end zone as a Pierce pass would be tipped by McEachern’s Coby Pittman and end up end the hands of his teammate, Marley Underwood, who would return for a pick six, leading to a 20-3 Indians lead. And after McEachern’s Barner would pick off Pierce on the ensuing Kell possession, the Indians would take a 27-3 lead thanks to a Brenton James 28-yard touchdown pass to Jahlil Page.

With time winding down in the second quarter, the Longhorns would earn their first touchdown of the night as Pierce connected with Noah Daniel for a 33-yard touchdown pass. However, in the third quarter, the Indians opening drives would result in a touchdown pass from Brenton James to Jahlil Page, for the second time of the night, and with the extra point, McEachern would take a 34-10 lead.

On the next Kell position, the Longhorns would put together a 64-yard drive for the second time of the night, but the drive would be foiled by a 99-yard pick six by Battle as he came up with his second interception of the night and help the Indians take a 40-10 lead, which would be the final score. Brenton would finish the night with 118 passing yards on 9-13 and two touchdown passes, while Barney finished with 67 rushing yards on two carries and one rushing touchdown, as well as an interception.