Hillcrest spoils Wren's Homecoming

The Hillcrest Rams used a 34-7 scoring run from the five minute mark of the 2nd quarter, to spoil homecoming at Wren 48-35. The Hurricanes would come out strong, they got a TD run by Freshman QB Gavin "Young Gun" Owens to lead 7-0. That TD was set up by a interception by Wren DB Shavis Edwards who returned it to set up a goal to go situation. Wren would then take a 14-0 lead in the 1st quarter on a TD run from RB Malachi Hill.

Hillcrest would get on the board with a TD run from QB Bennett Judy to cut it to 14-7. Wren would hit on a big play in the passing game, when Owens found C.J. Willingham for a 71 yard strike. Hillcrest WR Avery Mcfadden returned the ensuing kick off 94 yards to the house to make it 21-14, at the end of the 1st quarter. Wren would score on a Trey Horne TD run after a drive of 84 yards on 10 plays and would lead 28-14 in the 2nd quarter. After the five minute mark of the 2nd quarter, Hillcrest would seize momentum. The Rams got two TD passes late in the 1st half from Bennett Judy, one to Mcfadden the other to Jalen Neal. The game would be tied at 28 at the half.

The Rams defense would come to play after giving up 28 points early and would tighten up. Credit to Hillcrest's coaching staff as they adjusted and went to a 3-3-5 to combat the Wren passing game. In the 2nd half, Wren struck first on Malachi Hill's 2nd rushing TD and took a 35-28 lead. The Hillcrest defense would shut them out after that. Bennett Judy would find Jaylen Neal again this for a 30 yard TD strike in the 3rd quarter and the game would be tied after three.

Hillcrest took their 1st lead of the night with 11 minutes left in the game, when Judy would score on a 3 yard TD run. That capped an 8 play, 64 yard drive for Hillcrest. Wren would have a couple of chances late to tie it but turnovers would doom them. Malachi Hill fumbled at the Hillcrest 4 yard line with 4:20 left as Wren was on what would have been a game tying scoring drive. Wren got a stop to get the ball back in plus territory but Hillcrest DB Kendall Chapman sealed the deal when picked a Gavin Owens pass off and took it in for the pick 6 with a minute left.

Hillcrest was plus 2 in the turnover margin, as they forced 4 turnovers. The Rams played nearly mistake free football down the stretch. Hillcrest QB Bennett Judy was 23 of 28 for 313 yards and 3 TD passes. He also scored twice on the ground accounting for 5 total TD's. WR Jaylen Neal had catches for 73 yards and two TD's. Avery Mcfadden had nearly over 250 all purpose yards, 104 receiving and a TD to go with 160 yards on kick returns including the 94 yard TD. Wren got 4 rushing TD's on the night total, two from Malachi Hill and one each from Gavin Owens and Trey Horne. Owens threw for a TD as well.

The changing and disguising of coverages worked for Hillcrest, specifically going to zone schemes in the 3-3-5. That confused Wren 9th grad QB Gavin Owens, who has all the tools to have a bright future not only at Wren but the next level. Hillcrest moves to 3-2 with the win and will travel to take on Mauldin next week in their region opener. Wren falls to 2-4 with the loss, they have a bye week and then are at Seneca for the Region 1 AAA opener on October 8th.