Jaxon O'Neal hands off to Auvic White during action Friday night vs. Hardin County. Photo by David Perry
Munford remained competitive with Hardin County for a while Friday night in Munford, but in the end the Tigers had too much firepower.
Quarterback Rivers Hunt and wideout Kaydin Pope, both high-level college prospects, had big games and Hardin County, which is ranked second in the AP Class 4A state poll, beat Munford 42-14.
Pope caught six passes for 175 yards and Hunt completed 7 of 11 passes 179 yards and a touchdown. Hardin County also had 143 yards on the ground.
“We like to play situational defense a lot,” Munford coach Slade Calhoun said. “It seemed like every time we got them backed up and went into a dime defense they would run the ball on us. Their quarterback is just super. He recognizes coverages and blitzes and he’s a super-accurate passer.”
Hardin County (6-0) raced to a 21-0 lead through a quarter and a half before Munford got on the board when Jaxon O’Neal hit Jace Hodgin for a six-yard touchdown.
The Tigers scored again just before halftime and led 42-6 before Munford’s Jordan Bell scored late in the fourth on a six-yard run.
Pope didn’t score any touchdowns, but he had several long catches that led to scores.
“We busted a coverage or two, but there were a couple of times when he caught the ball I just clapped,” Calhoun said. “Jace Hodgin had him covered. You couldn’t cover hime a couple of times any better and he just made some circus catches. Hats off to that kid.”
O’Neal completed 7 of 15 passes for 101 yards and Auvic White gained 84 yards on 24 carries. Icarius Hodgin caught two passes for 42 yards.
Munford (4-2) is off this week before playing three straight solid teams, all on the road. After playing Northpoint Christian on Oct. 9, the Cougars play Dyer County on Oct. 16 and Evangelical Christian School on Oct. 23. Dyer County made the state semifinals last season and ECS won the DII-A state title.
“We’re going to get back to some fundamentals during our off week,” Calhoun said, “review and try and fix some mistakes that keep popping up on film.”
In other action:
• Northpoint Christian (2-1) got off to a quick start and won at Brighton on Friday, 27-8.
Brighton (2-4) managed 281 yards and 20 first downs but could not find the end zone until the fourth quarter.
Northpoint scored three times in the second quarter to take a 27-0 lead into the half.
The Cardinals travel to Arlington this Friday and Fayette-Ware on Oct. 9. Brighton will host St. Benedict on Oct. 23.
• Tipton-Rosemark (1-3) hosted top-ranked Davidson Academy Friday night and lost 63-7.
Griffin Swinea scored on three runs for Davidson (5-0) in the first quarter before the Rebels got on the board in the second quarter when Payne Fullen scored on a seven-yard run.
Fullen passed for 61 yards and ran for 47 more. Tucker James caught two passes for 55 yards.
The Rebels continue DII-A-West play this Friday with a home game vs. Trinity Christian Academy.
