FOOTBALL: Vernon-led Hornets Power Past Connally 34-20

Someone forgot to tell Gatesville it was the underdog here Friday night. The upstart Hornets rebounded from a pair of season-opening losses to down previously-unbeaten Waco Connally 34-20 at McKamie Stadium. “I was proud of our kids for their effort,” said GHS coach Kyle Cooper. “They did a good job of carrying out the game plan we had installed. More than that, I liked the way they kept believing in our system and what we were trying to accomplish.” It was a sweet victory for GHS, which had suffered lopsided defeats at the hands of Brownwood and Stephenville in its first two outings. Running back Dakota Vernon rushed for 259 yards and Jeff Speer added 199 total yards for the Hornets, who simply outmatched their visitors in a game that was not as close as the final score indicated. GHS accumulated 27 first downs and 470 yards offense, with 395 coming on the ground. “Offensively, we did a good job being physical and moving the ball,” he said. “Our defense had a great bend-but-don’t-break mentality all night long.” Gatesville, which built a 20-6 lead in the first half, flexed its muscle and might up front to control the line of scrimmage and allow Vernon and quarterback Jeff Speer to roam freely. After spotting their guests an early 6-0 lead, GHS answered when Andraque Jones found the end zone on a 3-yard scoring run. The Hornets produced scores twice in a six-minute span of the second frame – Speer on a 1-yard run and Brady Elliott on a 1-yard pass from Speer – to go ahead 20-6. Connally managed to cut the lead to 20-13 seconds before the first half ended, and the Cadets looked to be on the verge of another second-half comeback in the third quarter. GHS had taken the kickoff and drove the length of the field, but the scoring threat ended on a Hornet fumble at the Cadets' 12 yard line. Connally took just seven plays to tie the contest at 20-20. It would be the final trip to paydirt for the visitors. Gatesville, its line opening gaping holes and bottling up the inside for Vernon and Speer, came right back with an 11-play, 68-yard march. Speer, who rushed for 124 yards and passed for 75 (6-of-10), hit Andrew Wallace (3-50 receiving) for six yards on a key 4th-and-5 to keep the drive alive. Vernon punctuated the march with a 5-yard jaunt around right end that made it 27-20 with just 0:23 left in the third quarter. Speer would culminate the night’s scoring with a 5-yard keeper coming with just 2:22 remaining and punctuating another long march. This one lasted 10 plays and consumed more than six minutes off the clock, giving the Hornets a 34-20 lead. Defensive luminaries for GHS included Bryce Cole (15 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 caused fumble), Cooper Edmiston (10 tackles, 1 sack), Payden Smalley (8 tackles),Addison Santulan (7 tackles), and A. Jones (6 tackles, 1 caused fumble). “It was a nice win, especially after our first two weeks,” added Cooper. “We had made improvement from those first two weeks. I think our kids showed how they are capable of playing.” Gatesville travels to West (3-0) this Friday. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.