(Franklin, GA) — The HCMS Braves football team toppled the Temple Tigers by a final score of 38-14 Thursday in the home opener of the 2019 season.
The Braves dominated from the start of the game opening up a 24-0 lead at halftime.
Antwan Carter got the scoring started early with a touchdown run and subsequent 2-point play before quarterback Gryson Cockrell hooked up with L.J. green on a TD pass to make it 14-0.
Landon McLendon scored on the second 2-point ry to extend the lead to 16-0.
A Sammy Holliday fumble recovery on defense set up the next scoring play from Jonathan Echols. Echols celebrated his 14th birthday with a long rushing score from the QB position on a broken play. Holliday had a monster effort on both sides of the ball with a big first half sack and a 2-pt. conversion catch to go along with his fumble recovery.
Tommy Googe came with another big fumble recovery on defense as the Braves shut down the Tiger offense for most of the game before giving up two late scores in the fourth quarter. Cockrell and Echols each scored a second half TD for the Braves.
The offensive line for the Braves were key up front in the win. The starting offensive lien consisted of the center Googe, guards Brody Ogles and Jack Japour, and tackles Blake Oldham and Hayden Holiday. Oldham has been a force in the trenches to lead the offensive line this year.
Coach Zack Janney was very pleased to see his guys have such a strong showing in the first league game in front of the home crowd.
“We’re 2-0 in the league now and I am just super proud of them all. They have been working their tails off and the brotherhood on this team is just amazing,” said Janney after the game. “They are just all for each other Echols even called a play today so Gryson could score. There is a lot of love on this team with the coaches and the players and I am just so excited about it.”
The Middle Braves will travel to Carrollton Thursday to take on the Trojans before returning to small school play at Mt. Zion on September 26.
Due to fall break, the regular season home finale versus Bowdon has been moved to Tuesday, October 1 after originally being scheduled for Thursday October 3. The middle school playoffs take place October 17 with the title game slated for October 24.
