Javont’e Johnson heads for the end zone for a score.
Reggie Thompson breaks a couple Spartan tackles for long yardage.
Union’s Tobias Cormartie gets brought down by Steven Aguilar, #20, and Jason Johnson, #50.
Hobbton’s Anthony Cowell takes off down the sideline returning a kickoff.
Wildcat quarterback Joe Corbett gets wrapped up by the Spartan defense on a keeper.
The Hobbton Wildcats dominated the Union Spartans in Friday night’s gridiron action, shutting down the Spartan offense and taking a 50-6 win.
The Wildcats started the game with the ball first on their six-yard line. Two-and-half minutes later, Joe Corbett connected with Anthony Cowell on a six-yard pass for the score. The drive covered 96 yards in seven plays. The PAT failed, making it a 6-0 lead for the hometown team.
The Spartans took over, but the Wildcat defense shut them down, forcing a turnover. The Wildcats wound up with great field position at the Spartan 23-yard line. Javont’e Johnson finished the drive with a seven-yard run to raise the score to 12-0. Corbett connected with Ethan Bridges for the PAT and a 14-0 Wildcat lead.
Union’s next possession ended with three plays and a punt with the Wildcats taking over at the Spartan 46-yard line. Three plays later, the Wildcats were in the end zone again on an eight-yard pass from Corbett to Reggie Thompson. Corbett hooked up with Amir Tate for the PAT and a 22-0 game. There was 2:54 left in the first quarter.
Union’s next possession started on their 33-yard line. That drive stalled and the Wildcats had possession again at midfield. The Corbett-Thompson combination resulted in a 50-yard pass for a score. The PAT was good on a kick for a 29-0 game with 9:49 left in the half.
The Spartans started over on their 26-yard line, and a sack for a loss forced a fourth-and-long situation at their 22-yard line. The Wildcats took over on their 44-yard line. Thompson grabbed another Corbett pass for a touchdown with 6:58 left in the half, but the PAT failed on a wide kick. The score was 35-0.
Union’s next drive started at their 45-yard line. They were in a fourth-and-four situation which they converted for a first down. With 1:51 left in the half, the drive stalled on an incomplete fourth down pass at the 50-yard line. Three plays later, the Wildcats were in the end zone again on a pass from Corbett to Johnson. A bad snap on the PAT turned into a two-point PAT when Amir Tate, the place kick holder, connected with Thompson. The halftime score was 44-0.
The Spartans started the second half with the ball on their 29-yard line. With the clock running full time and 7:51 left in the third quarter, this Spartan drive stalled and forced a turnover.
The Wildcats took over on the Spartan 47-yard line. A bad snap from the center sent the ball over Corbett’s head with Spartan Manny Adams picking up the ball and taking off for the end zone and none of the Wildcats could catch him. The PAT kick was blocked. The score was 44-6 with 5:30 left in the third quarter.
Cowell picked up the Spartan kickoff at the Wildcat six-yard line and returned it 60 yards, setting the Wildcats up at the Spartan 46-yard line. With the ball on the Spartan six-yard line, Cowell ran it in for the score. The PAT failed leaving the score at 50-6, which would be the final score of the game.
The Wildcats moved to 3-6 on the season and 1-2 in Carolina 1A Conference play, good enough for fourth place. They will host North Duplin Friday.
The Spartans moved to 0-9 overall, and 0-4 in conference play, landing them in fifth place. They have this week off and will travel to West Columbus next Friday.