Blackman Blaze football traveled to Green Hill High School for round one of the playoffs to face the 10-0 Hawks. Green Hill was heavily favored as they had not lost a game so far this season, and everyone at 615 preps chose Green Hill to win this game. But even through injuries, Blackman ended the Hawks season with a demolishing 45-14 win.
The Blaze couldn’t get it going on their first drive and Green Hill went up 6-0 early. But Austin Moore, senior, blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown to give Blackman the lead and they never looked back from there.
“That really turned the team up and really proved we didn’t just come to play, but that we were here to stay,” said Moore.
The next time the Blaze got the ball. Quarterback Johnathan Hamby, junior, found Brylan Odour, sophomore, in the endzone for a touchdown to go up 14-6 and then Tyler Borombozin, junior, then tacked on three more points with a field goal to make it 17-6. Green Hill was able to respond with a touchdown and a 2-point conversion to cut the lead to 17-14, but this was the last of good things the Hawks would see this season.
In the second half the Blaze really started to pull away as Hamby hit wide receiver Jayden Guy, senior, for a 44-yard touchdown to go up 24-14.
At the start of the fourth quarter cornerback Jaden Lark, junior, got an interception to give the ball back to his offense. Then Guy made another huge play with an 87-yard catch and run for a touchdown which took the life out of Green Hill, and put Blackman up 31-14
Then on Green Hill’s next drive safety Jonah Brown, senior, got an interception that led to 8-yard John Dragoo, senior, touchdown that put the Blaze up 38-14.
The Blaze where then able to get another stop, and score another touchdown when Odour went up and made a spectacular grab on top of a Green Hill defender to top off the game and make the final score 45-14.
“This win inspires me to work harder, just knowing we have a full team that is capable of winning,” said Hamby, “It builds confidence, and we now know we can continue to win.”
This was Hamby’s first start since week three after Marcus Cameron took over the starting role against Summit, but Hamby played great as he came in for the injured Cameron and led his team to one of their better offensive performances of the season.
Blackman will advance to round two this Friday where they will play at Riverdale for a rematch of the Backyard Brawl. Lark says “it’s going to be the game to watch this week” so students should come out and support the Blaze for their round two game at Riverdale.
