Sparkman Running game strong against Hazel Green

Hazel Green - Sparkman coach Roger Haynes believed his team could run effectively in Friday night's 6A, Region 8 game against Hazel Green.Slowly but surely the Senators, behind a solid line, proved their coach right. The running combined with outstanding linebacker play gave Sparkman a decisive 37-20 victory.The Senators led 30-7 with just under 10 minutes remaining. "We expect to win," Haynes said. "This gives us some confidence."Quarterback Whitney McKinney ran for two touchdowns, one on a neat option play, and he passed for another.Sparkman piled up 328 yards rushing, led by Troy Nance who carried 15 times for 133 yards. Mekale Stevenson, John Shirley and Alex Garner were Sparkman's blocking leaders.On defense, linebackers Quinton Smith, Blake Burns and Chris Wilson drew praise from their coach.The Senators improved to 2-1, 2-0 in the region, with an important game against Decatur coming next Friday. Sparkman opened with three games on the road and now will be home for five straight.Hazel Green fell to 2-1 and 1-1."They whipped us," Hazel Green coach Jimmy Don Nave said. "They are better than we are. They are big, athletic and well-coached."An 8-yard run by Nick Goodwin got Hazel Green on the board first. Sparkman narrowed the first quarter gap to 7-3 when Trent Bissell kicked a 29-yard field goal.The Senators drove 70 yards and took the lead for good with 5:56 left in the half when Dezmond Richardson ran 22 yards. Three minutes later, McKinney's keeper for 43 yards left Sparkman with a 17-7 halftime lead. McKinney scored from the 1 in the third quarter, then hit Tim Johnson with a 31-yard pass with 9:50 remaining to make it 30-7. Shannon Anderson broke several tackles on a 37-yard scoring run for Hazel Green.Cornelius Monogan answered by scoring from the 4 for Sparkman, only to see Courtney Fowler return the ensuing kickoff 96 yards to finish the scoring.

4th

Passing

• (#4 McKinney) 5 - 11 63 yards 1 TD 0 Int

Kicking and Punting

# 30 Ryan Hurford - 5 punts - 38, 36, 40, 10, 41
33 yard average.

Penaltys- 9 for 70 yards

First Downs - Sparkman 17

Field Goals - # 35 Bissell ( 30)

Rushing

• (#8 Nance) 15 carries for 133 yards
• (#37 Richardson) 11 carries for 65 yards and 1 TD
• (#16 Korak) 3 carries for 46 yards
• (#4 McKinney) 5 carries for 39 yards and 2 TD
• (#3 Moore) 4 carries for 14 yards
• (#22 Rivers) 3 carries for 11 yards
• (#31 Gibson) 4 carries for 8 yards
• (#26 Hoke) 3 carries for 6 yards
• (#19 Monegan) 1 carry 5 yards and 1 TD
• (#9 Johnson) 2 carries (-2) yards

Receiving

• (#9 Johnson) 3 rec 46 yards and 1 TD
• (#22 Rivers) 1 rec 12 yards
• (#88 Connor) 1 rec 5 yards

Passing 11 pass attempts for 63 yards

Rushing 51 rushes for 318 yards

Total = 62 plays for 381 yards and 6.1 yards per play

Scoring Summary and other tidbits

- This game was a rivalry game for Sparkman a they defeated county rival Hazel Green for the third year in a row.