Pick-six sparks Mavericks’ surge
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Anderson County’s Lane LaRue sheds a Heritage defender and fights for extra yardage during the Mavericks’ 55-28 victory Friday night.
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The Anderson County Mavericks storm onto the field carrying American flags before Friday night’s game against Heritage. The patriotic entrance was part of the Mavericks’ 9/11 remembrance ceremony honoring local first-responders and those who answered the call on Sept. 11, 2001.
Yes, Anderson County beat Heritage 55-28, but Mavericks Coach Davey Gillum wasn’t particularly pleased with how his team got there.
“We just looked like the Bad News Bears in that first half,” Gillum said. “It’s like it was Anderson County 55 to Anderson County 28. We’re playing ourselves. And we were directly responsible for about everything they did to get points, whether it was our offense or special teams or busts on defense or penalties.
“Mistakes left and right,”he said. “We haven’t played much uglier.
“But once we cleaned it up, it got where it should be. It could have been like that in the first half or first quarter, but we’re still learning how to win,” the coach added.
A 56-yard interception return for a touchdown by senior linebacker Maddox Tackett with 5:33 left in the third quarter proved to be a turning point after the Mountaineers led 14-7 at halftime.
“I thought Maddox Tackett played really well,” Gillum said. “He had a big pick-six in the second half that really gave us some momentum that we never lost.
“We didn’t do anything different second half,” he said. “We just cut out the mistakes and cleaned it up.
“And you know we were able to pull away pretty quick once we cleaned it up.” Gillum said. “But it’s kind of been the name of the game for us. It’s more about we’re playing ourselves every week.”
Junior running back Lane LaRue was one Maverick who played well throughout the game, despite battling an injury.
“He had a sprained MCL,” Gillum said. “Was very limited in practice all week, got a brace and came in and played real well. Really, he had a solid first half.”
LaRue also had a touchdown called back because of a penalty, but he broke loose after halftime.
“He had a couple of real big runs in the second half; he had a good night,” Gillum said. “He had well over 100 yards rushing.”
LaRue scored on runs of 48 and 1 yards.
“We got the pass game finally cleaned up in the second half, and then JD (Gillum, quarterback) had a good night,” the coach said.
“He threw for three touchdowns and 331 yards and ran for a touchdown (14 yards), and I felt like Jackson Price (receiver) had a real good night. They tried to double him all night to keep him from getting involved, but he had a good night.
“Elijah Johnson (receiver) ended up having another good night.
“I thought the O-line was good all night,” Gillum added. “The defensive line was good all night.”
Michael Ward added a 5-yard touchdown run for the Mavericks.
Charlie Morris kicked six extra points, while Jimmy Rivera added one.
“Sometimes their quarterback scrambled around and extended a drive or two, but, you know, the run game for them was nonexistent,” Gillum said. “We harassed him all night with pressure, those type things.”
