The most important of all snaps in the game came down to one, as the Hixson Wildcats kept their offense on the field for a fourth-and-one scenario. Star senior back, Michael “KoKo” Kendricks who had been causing havoc all day for opposing Signal Mountain stood waiting in the backfield.
Hixson who started the season 0-2 was now in a yard's reach of claiming a win that would bring them to an even .500 record.
Deep in Eagle territory with just under seven minutes left in the game, the ball is snapped…
With little to no surprise, the ball went to Kendricks. He went full throttle to the left side of the field and found a massive gap. He ran and trotted into the end zone and the hometown fans celebrated. Pandemonium ensued at Hixson’s Anthony Martino Field, as the Wildcats extended their lead to two scores. And with the little time remaining Signal Mountain could not recover. The Wildcats would win this contest 19-7.
The running back they call “KoKo” had a massive game. Kendricks ran for 156 yards on 24 carries for two TDs. He was also gpt it done on the defensive side of the ball, hauling in two interceptions for his Wildcats.
And as good of a player as Kendricks is he continues to make leaps and bounds of improvement, while wearing a Wildcat uniform. Coach Nick Rivers talked about where he has seen Kendricks improve as a player.
“The thing that he brings now is leadership. That’s the one thing we have kind of been lacking from him, and it’s also accountability. Now he’s holding himself accountable for situations. I told them on the sideline when they ran that little jet play, “KoKo is the one that actually made the lead block that got them to the first down. So those little things that he’s doing now is the difference.”
Kendricks is a shifty and elusive back on the field and is a class act leader both on and off of it.
Another great leader on this Hixson team is their starting quarterback, Chase Barnard. Barnard thought he would primarily play linebacker and running back when the season started had to quickly adapt to a new reality when the Wildcats' original starter, Luke Finch, went down with a broken ankle in the jamboree. And suffice it to say Barnard is dealing with it well. He had a solid performance this Friday night passing for an efficient six of seven for 68 yards while also rushing for 66 yards and a touchdown.
“Chase does whatever we need him to do, play linebacker inside and outside, h-back, he’s played tight end, he's played whatever we ask him to do. He’s a leader on this team, and I am super proud of him”, said Coach Rivers when talking about Barnard after the game.
If Coach Rivers needed to replace a punter, cornerback, or any other position he did not already mention. I would guarantee Barnard would be in the conversation.
Hixson is starting to gain momentum, and it is obvious the players are all buying into what coach Rivers is preaching. And as unpredictable as football can be, Coach Rivers makes it plain as to what all teams can expect when they play his football team, “We are just gonna play Hixson high school football, we are gonna just come out here and play ball.”
The hardnosed Wildcats will look to continue their streak of success, as they next take on the red-hot Loudon Redskins next Friday.
SUMMARY
|
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
-- 7
|
|
HIXSON
|
7
|
6
|
0
|
7
|
-- 19
|
HX Michael “Koko” Kendricks 46 run (Isaac Smith kick) (7:57, 1st)
SM Garrett Wilson 8 run (kick) (0:00, 1st)
HX Chase Barnard 1 run (kick blocked) (5:24, 2nd)
HX Kendricks 14 run (pass fail) (6:35, 4th)
|
STATS
|
SM
|
HX
|
|
First Downs
|
15
|
13
|
|
Rushes-Yards
|
28-105
|
35-225
|
|
Passing Yards
|
169
|
68
|
|
Total yards
|
274
|
293
|
|
Passing (Comp-Att-Int)
|
16-25-2
|
6-7-0
|
|
Penalties-Yards
|
9-85
|
6-55
|
|
Punts-Average
|
2-20
|
1-42
|
|
Fumbles-Lost
|
1-0
|
3-1
|
Individual Stats
Rushing: Garrett on 21-84; Jack Perry 5-17; Christian Thompson 1-4; Bo Cooper 1-0; (SM); Michael “Koko” Kendricks 24-156; Chase Barnard 10-66; Lawuan Hughley 1-3 (HX).
Passing: Garrett Wilson 16-25-2 for 169 yards (SM); Chase Barnard 6-7-0 for 68 yards (HX).
Receiving: Blake Wolfard 11-135; Barrett Anderson 2-18; Malik Davis 1-9; Bo Cooper 2-7 (SM); Lawuan Hughley 2-27; Michael “Koko” Kendricks 1-13; Tramell Davis 1-11; Ronald Suttles 1-10; Isaac Smith 1-7 (HX).
Records: Signal Mountain 2-2, 1-1; Hixson 2-2, 1-0
(Email Gray Deyo at sports@chattanoogan.com)