Ohatchee overruns Weaver

By EASportsToday.com
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Updated: September 17, 2016

Indians celebrate their first statewide ranking in 14 years by dominating in all three phases of the game

Austin Tucker rushed for nearly 140 yards, ran for one touchdown and threw for another in Ohatchee’s region win over Weaver. (All photos by B.J. Franklin/GungHo Photos)

By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today

WEAVER — All you need to know about the way Ohatchee dominated in its biggest football game in years was to watch the second half — more specifically the third quarter.

The Indians broke into the statewide rankings for the first time in 14 years Friday and showed they belonged in dismantling Weaver in a battle of newly ranked undefeated 3A teams 41-21.

Ranked for the first time in 160 polls at No. 9 in Class 3A — 55 years to the week they were ranked No. 1 in the state — the Tribe dominated in all three phases when their first team was in the game.

“I thought our guys came out in a big-game situation and played about as well as we could play,” Ohatchee coach Scott Martin said. “We were not overwhelmed by the setting, by the surroundings. This is as big a crowd as these kids have ever played in front of and our kids were able to keep their composure and stay focused and go play to play and that was huge.

“I’m still pretty much in awe because when I look out there and see the type of team Weaver has … it was like a heavyweight fight. We got in there and slugged it out with them for four quarters.”

At no point were the Indians more dominant than the third quarter.

They led 14-0 at the end of a tense first half in which each team had a touchdown called back by a penalty, each team had a player ejected and there were three offsetting personal foul penalties.

Weaver had the ball for the first three plays of the third quarter — a short run by Tyrik Hall and two incomplete passes — and by the time it got the ball again — with 11:00 left in the game — Ohatchee was up 34-0.

In between, Austin Tucker had a 4-yard touchdown run, Tucker floated a 6-yard TD pass on fourth down to Jessie Sellers and Taylor Eubanks had a 2-yard TD run. The Indians kept getting the ball because Weaver failed to control two short kickoffs.

“We just came out and smashed them in the mouth after halftime, just ran it down their throats and they laid down,” Tucker said. “Tonight was probably the best night I’ve had in the football season all year. They were talking about Weaver may just be the most dominant 3A team and to come out here and beat them like we did … and just bully them and manhandle them like we did, it’s the best feeling.”

The Indians controlled the clock with a punishing ground game and kept the Bearcats off the board for three quarters. Tucker had 138 yards on 26 carries, while Eubanks had 79 yards on 17 carries.
Weaver had 84 total yards through the first three quarters.

Weaver coach Daryl Hamby said the emotion of the game got the best of his team. The Bearcats were ranked for the first time in 10 years and a week, at No. 10 in Class 3A.

“We just got our butts whupped from the beginning, every facet of the game,” Hamby said. “We played with too much emotion and that caught up with us. We let our emotions get the best of us. You can’t play with emotion; you’ve got to play with focus.

“We were looking too far ahead, getting too involved with these stupid rankings, not paying attention and focus on the game. That’s what happens when you look ahead and thinking you’re better than you are and you don’t need to work. Better worry about the game; if not you’re going to get your butt whupped and that’s just what happened.”

Weaver quarterback Dalton Hamby tries to run through the tackle of Ohatchee defender Jessie Sellers.

Ohatchee 41, Weaver 21

Ohatchee 7 7 14 13 — 41
Weaver 0 0 0 21 — 21

O – Taylor Eubanks 12 run (Christian Fitch kick), 4:43 1Q
O – Jessie Sellers 76 interception return (Christian Fitch kick), 8:57 2Q
O – Austin Tucker 5 run (kick failed), 9:18 3Q
O – Jessie Sellers 6 pass from Austin Tucker (Taylor Eubanks run), 0:52 3Q
O – Taylor Eubanks 1 run (kick failed), 11:06 4Q
W – Tyrik Hall 20 run (Riley Benavides kick), 6:51 4Q
O – Kevin Williamson 23 run (Gage Harrell kick), 4:00 4Q
W – Shamar Spinks 51 pass from Maurice Goodman (Riley Benavides kick), 3:06 4Q
W – Davontae Hilliard 11 pass from Maurice Goodman (Riley Benavides kick), 0:30 4Q

Team stats Ohat Wea
First downs 19 11
Rushes-yds 62-299 17-107
Passing 2-2-0 8-24-2
Passing yds 11 135
Fumbles-lost 1-1 0-0
Punts-avg 3-36.0 5-37.4
Penalties-yds 7-50 4-45