LOCUST FORK, Ala. – Holly Pond traveled to Locust Fork to kick off region play against the Hornets and unfortunately for the Broncos, Locust Fork was dominant from start to finish and Holly Pond fell to 0-3 with a 68-28 loss.
Locust Fork jumped out to an early 7-0 lead on a 31-yard pass from quarterback “Dino” Dylan Embry to Landon Keith. Holly Pond started its first possession on its own 39. Following an incomplete pass on first down, the Broncos fumbled the ball and the Hornets recovered on the Bronco 39.
Quarterback Sawyer Olinger tried to the get Bronco offense rolling but they went three-and-out with a short punt giving the ball to the Hornets on the Bronco 31.
With the short field advantage, Embry threw a strike to Charlie Armstrong, on first down, moving the ball down to the Bronco 21. From there, Jalon Boatright raced 21 yards for another Hornet touchdown. Holly Pond’s Jayden Holloway blocked the PAT attempt and with 7:29 left in the first quarter Locust Fork led 19-0.
The Broncos started their third possession on their own 41 but on second down fumbled the ball away. The fumble was recovered by the Hornets, and they carried the ball down to the Bronco 10. Two plays later Johnathon Burgett punched it into the end zone and put Locust Fork up 26-0.
Holly Pond’s offense could not get any momentum going. Starting on their own 33 the Broncos found themselves facing fourth down and backed up to their own 29. Back in punt formation, Olinger took off but only made it back to his own 29 where Locust Fork took over on downs.
Embry took advantage of the short field position and called his own number on first down. Embry went 29 yards for a Hornets touchdown and with 4:33 left in first quarter Locust Fork led 33-0
Holly Pond goes four and out punting the ball away to Locust Fork. As the 1st quarter ends, the Hornets are back on the Bronco 5-yard line.
The second quarter saw Locust Fork put up 14 more points before the Broncos got on the board behind strong running by Olinger and Boston Gibbs. With 3:06 left in the 2nd quarter, Olinger scored from one yard out to put the Broncos on the board.
Locust Fork scored its final touchdown of the second quarter on a 7-yard run from Burgett and the Hornets went into halftime leading 54-7.
The Broncos offense was finally able to get rolling in the third quarter. Starting on their own 23 Olinger gets the Broncos moving. Finding themselves on the Hornet 35 and facing third down Olinger called his own number and went 35 yards for the Bronco touchdown to make it 54-14.
The third quarter saw the Holly Pond defense, led by Coby McCoy, shut down the powerful Hornet offense. Following the first Locust Fork punt, Holly Pond starts on their own 27. Gibbs got the Broncos up to their own 38 and on third down Gibbs went 62 yards for a Bronco touchdown and cut the lead to 54-21.
The Broncos shut down the Hornets again, following a McCoy quarterback sack. The Hornets are forced to punt. The Broncos started at their own 39 but another Bronco fumble on first down gives the Hornets good field position.
The Hornets put the game away in the fourth with two more touchdowns padding their lead. The Broncos were able to score one final time on an exciting 82-yard run by Gibbs, but the Locust Fork lead was just too much to overcome, and Holly Pond fell on the road 68-28.
The Broncos will return home next week to host a regional game against Pleasant Valley.
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