Advertisement

Commandos roll on

Hendersonville High sophomore Anthony Hughes had a 27-yard touchdown run during the second quarter.

Hendersonville High sophomore Anthony Hughes had a 27-yard touchdown run during the second quarter.

Hendersonville High senior Jack Towe carries the football to the end zone during a 14-yard touchdown run in the second quarter as Gallatin junior Dezmond Chambers pursues.

Hendersonville High senior Jack Towe carries the football to the end zone during a 14-yard touchdown run in the second quarter as Gallatin junior Dezmond Chambers pursues.

HENDERSONVILLE After suffering a 49-21 loss to Hillsboro earlier this season, the Hendersonville High School football team needs some help in order to win the Region 6-5A championship.

However, the Commandos have controlled all they could since that time, rolling to their third consecutive victory with Friday evening’s 42-14 victory over visiting Gallatin at Paul Decker Field.

“We just try to take it one game at a time, focus on each other and the opponent for that week,” Hendersonville junior cornerback Luke Carver said. “It’s never good to lose. It definitely humbled us and made us come together.”

Commando senior halfback/strong safety Jack Towe added, “We did learn from it. It make us play more as a team and play with each other. (Winning the region) is in our head, but we are thinking about doing the best we can. We’re just looking forward to the next two weeks.”

Hendersonville (7-1 overall, 4-1 in Region 6-5A) has won its last three games by a combined margin of 101-27.

“I definitely think we are improving and working hard,” Carver said. “Everyone is doing their job, and it’s working out.”

The Green Wave (4-4 overall, 2-3 in Region 6-5A) lost their third consecutive game and for the fourth time in their last five contests.

To compound their recent struggles, Gallatin junior tailback Jordan Mason left with a second-quarter injury and did not return. Mason leads Sumner County with more than 1,200 rushing yards and has 15 rushing touchdowns.

“We didn’t want him to further injure that leg,” Green Wave head coach Mark Williams said. “He thought he could go (play). It’s a nagging injury. It’s frustrating him a bit. He’s a competitor, but at the same time, we want to do what’s in the best interest of the young man.”

Gallatin junior quarterback Wyatt Hayes also suffered a fourth-quarter injury, and Green Wave senior back-up quarterback Christian Campbell was injured late in the contest as well.

Mason broke free on a 55-yard run to start the third Gallatin possession, and he was carrying the ball toward the goal line four plays later when he fumbled. However, classmate Dezmond Chambers recovered the loose football in the end zone to tie the game.

However, Towe returned the ensuing kickoff 66 yards for a touchdown, starting a stretch in which the Commandos scored 35 unanswered points.

Gallatin High junior Dezmond Chambers carries the football during the second quarter.

Gallatin High junior Dezmond Chambers carries the football during the second quarter.

“I kind of hesitated to let my blockers get in front of me,” Towe said. “I started towards the home sideline. It just opened up because of the great blocking.”

Williams added, “That was big. We have to find a way to keep the momentum edge, keep that in our favor. We have to find a way to not get our heads down.”

Hendersonville junior Terrell Carter returned a punt 59 yards for a touchdown, but it was negated due to a holding penalty.

Towe ran for touchdowns of 14 and 5 yards in the first half, and Mike Harris’ 10-yard touchdown run, Anthony Hughes’ 27-yard touchdown run and Carter’s 7-yard scoring dash extended the lead to 42-7 early in the second half.

Chambers also scored his squad’s other touchdown, catching a quick pass, breaking a couple of tackles and eluding other defensive backs on a 59-yard score early in the fourth quarter.

Hayes passed for 151 yards, but he completed just 5 of 13 passes and was intercepted by Carver twice.

“Everyone worked really hard this week,” Carver said. “We came together as a team and worked really hard. The coaches did a good job of explaining what we needed to do, and we just got the job done.”

Gallatin High junior quarterback Wyatt Hayes is tackled by Hendersonville seniors Alex Tate and Jack Towe during second-quarter action.

Gallatin High junior quarterback Wyatt Hayes is tackled by Hendersonville seniors Alex Tate and Jack Towe during second-quarter action.

Though the Commandos have won the last two meetings between the rivals, Gallatin still leads the all-time series by a margin of 40-18-1.

“It’s really big,” Towe said. “A lot of our community looks forward to watching this game, because it’s the oldest (county) rivalry. The coaches remind us that it doesn’t just mean a lot to us.”

Both teams will have a week off before resuming play, with the Green Wave hosting Hillsboro on Oct. 23 and Hendersonville playing at Glenclilff that night.

Reach Craig Harris at 615-575-7138 or on Twitter @HarrisGNESports.

table.tableizer-table {
border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
font-size: 12px;
}
.tableizer-table td {
padding: 4px;
margin: 3px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
}
.tableizer-table th {
background-color: #104E8B;
color: #FFF;
font-weight: bold;
}

Gallatin 7 0 0 7 14
Hendersonville 14 21 7 0 42

H – Jack Towe 5 run. Jacob Harris kick.;G – Dezmond Chambers recovers fumble in the end zone. David Salas kick.;H – Jack Towe 66 kickoff return. Jacob Harris kick. H – Mike Harris 10 run. Jacob Harris kick.;H – Towe 14 run. Jacob Harris kick.;H – Anthony Hughes 27 run. Jacob Harris kick. H – Carter 7 run. Jacob Harris kick. G – Chambers 59 pass from Wyatt Hayes. Salas kick.

table.tableizer-table {
border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
font-size: 12px;
}
.tableizer-table td {
padding: 4px;
margin: 3px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
}
.tableizer-table th {
background-color: #104E8B;
color: #FFF;
font-weight: bold;
}

G H
First downs 8 12
Rushes-yards 32-125 46-247
Comp-Att-Int 6-15-2 3-4-0
Passing yards 161 31
Fumbles-lost 3-0 2-0
Penalties-yards 2-30 2-25

RUSHING

G— Campbell 4- -8, Chambers 1- 6, Hayes 4- -4, Mason 8- 82, Porter 7- 26, Robb 2- 8, Storke 6- 15.

H— Carter 9- 57, Coker 4- 6, Eicher 2- 12, Ferguson 2- -1, Harris 6- 47, Hoosier 3- -2, Hughes 5- 39, Richard 1- -1, Schwerdt 1- 2, Small 4- 22, Towe 9- 66.

PASSING

G— Campbell 1- 2- 0- 10, Hayes 5- 13- 2- 151.

H— Coker 3- 4- – 31.

RECEIVING

G— Chambers 2- 75, Hancock 2- 35, Knight 1- 10, Pellerin 1- 41.

H— Carter 3- 31.

More News