Mavericks rout Wildcats 60-7
The Anderson County Mavericks rode roughshod over the Chattanooga Hixson Wildcats Friday night.
The final score was 60-7 and could have been worse as reserve players and junior varsity played the entire second half for the Mavericks.
Anderson County took the opening possession and marched 65 in 10 plays as Mason Phillips gashed the Wildcats for gains of five, 19, five, and seven yards. Quarterback Stanton Martin had short completions to Marquise Gallahar and Michael Carroll as the Mavericks moved the ball efficiently. The drive ended with a one-yard plunge by Phillips for the score.
Clayton Utley kicked the extra point and Anderson County took a 7-0 lead with 8:42 remaining in the first quarter.
With a stiff breeze blowing and rain showers falling intermittently, the Wildcats offense took the field at their own 19-yard line. A penalty cost them five yards and Gallahar tackled a runner for a two-yard loss. On second and 17 from the Hixson 12, Thomas Roberts tackled a ball carrier for a one-yard loss. A run on third and 18 netted no gain as Ryan Moog stuffed the running back at the line of scrimmage and forced a punt.
On the first play of the next possession, Martin hit Carroll on a 42-yard touchdown pass.
The extra point attempt failed but the Mavericks led 13-0 with 5:09 remaining in the first quarter.
The Wildcats offense returned to the field to face the Anderson County defense, which was just as unyielding as it was on the previous drive. Facing fourth and 17 from its own 15-yard line, Hixson opted to punt. The kick was blocked back into the hands of punter Jack Julian, who tried to scramble for a first down but was tackled by Gallahar at the Hixon 24-yard line.
Following a loss of four on first down, Phillips scored from 28 yards out on the second down play.
The extra point attempt failed but the Mavericks led 19-0 with 2:35 remaining in the first quarter.
The Wildcats opened the second quarter with a punt and Anderson County took possession at its own 22-yard line.
On the first play of the drive Martin fired a 78-yard bomb to Chris Powell for a touchdown.
Utley added the PAT and the Mavericks led 26-0 with 11:23 left in the first half.
On the next Hixson drive their biggest gain was 15 yards, which came courtesy of a personal foul penalty. The Wildcats turned the ball over on downs at the Anderson County 32-yard line.
Martin threw to Moog for a 29-yard gain. On the next play he found Carroll on a 39-yard strike for the score.
Utley added the extra point and the Mavericks led 33-0 with 7:39 remaining in the half.
The Hixson offense returned to the field and once again was shut down by the Anderson County defense. They punted the ball away and the Mavericks set up shop on their own 27-yard line.
Six plays and 62 yards later Martin found Dalton Wilson on a 16-yard touchdown pass.
Utley booted the extra point and Anderson County led 40-0 with 3:53 remaining in the half.
On the ensuing Hixson drive Ethan Powers sacked Wildcats’ quarterback Landon Wallace for a six-yard loss. Unfortunately for Hixson that play was the highlight of the possession as they were forced to punt again.
Three plays later Phillips scored on a 43-yard run, shedding tacklers like the light rain blowing across the field.
Utley booted the PAT and the Anderson County lead swelled to 47-0 with 1:47 remaining in the half.
The Wildcats ran out the clock and the game went into the half.
During halftime the rain picked up in intensity and if the lopsided score was not enough to discourage fans from staying, the rain and wind were.
With the stands rapidly emptying, the Mavericks’ reserves took the field as the second half started under the “mercy rule,” meaning a continuous clock would be running.
The two teams traded possessions but the Mavericks wound up with the ball on the Hixson 38-yard line. They went on a 10-play drive that was capped by an eight-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Seidner to Cannon Carpenter.
The extra point attempt failed but the Mavericks led 53-0 with 3:24 left in the quarter.
The Wildcats finally put together a drive in the fourth quarter against the Anderson County JV defense. They went 69 yards in six plays as Wallace fired a 23-yard touchdown pass to Julian.
Julian kicked the extra point and the Mavericks led 53-7 with 5:08 remaining in the game.
Freshman Joshua Miller closed the game for Anderson County with a 73-yard run for a touchdown on third and three.
Steve Wagner kicked the extra point to make the final 60-7.
Martin finished the game 10-13 for 263 yards and four touchdowns.
“Coach Jesse [offensive coordinator Sean Jesse] got to play X-Box tonight. So many guys are playing well right now and we’re staying relatively healthy which helps. The O-line is playing well and you’ve got a bunch of receivers who are playing well and are dangerous with a quarterback as good as you can get. We did a great job offensively,” said Davey Gillum, head coach of the Mavericks.
“Defensively, we played just as well. I don’t know other than penalties they [Hixon] had many positive yards,” he said.
Phillips led the Mavericks with 108 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries.
Miller had 78 yards and a touchdown on six carries.
Carroll had three receptions for 93 yards and two touchdowns while Powell had two receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Andrew Hatmaker led Anderson County with six total tackles and a forced fumble.
Moog, Powers, and Trey Noe each recorded a sack on a night where the defense was nothing short of dominant.
For the season, Anderson County is averaging scoring 57 points per game and their defense is averaging giving up 16.6 points per game.
Through three games, Martin has thrown for 906 yards and 14 touchdowns while Wilson has seven touchdown receptions and averaging 24.8 yards per reception. Carroll has four touchdown receptions and is averaging 20.1 yards per reception.
The Mavericks (3-0 overall, 1-0 Region 2-4A) travel across the bridge to face archrival Clinton (2-0) on Friday night.
Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
Game stats
Hixon AC
First downs 8 18
Rushing yds. 31 233
Passing yds. 107 292
Total yds. 138 525
Pass comp/att/int 8-17-0 13-19-0
Turnovers 0 0
Penalties 10-62 8-76
Time of poss. 29:02 18:58