Rushing leads THS to win over Bibb County
Published 12:00 am Friday, October 4, 2002
He ran. He threw. He kicked. He scored. He even tackled. Last Friday night, he led his team with confidence to a 45-6 win against Bibb County High School.
Thompson High School quarterback Brett Rushing scored 21 of those 45 points himself with two touchdowns, six extra points and a field goal.
THS head coach Ricky Seale said Rushing was a playmaker last Friday night.
&uot;He only ran the ball two times and he scored both times,&uot; Seale said. &uot;He completed 2-of-3 passes and kicked a field goal.&uot;
Seale said the big win allowed some of his players a chance to rest and heal.
&uot;We held out four starters, three of whom could have played,&uot; Seale said.
Seale said Alonzo Barrett, Ryan Winslett and Andrew Hairston, each suffering from minor bumps and bruises, sat out, along with Eric Bogan, who was hurt in the second half of the loss to Briarwood. Seale said Bogan would return this Friday.
The Warriors’ first score came on the team’s first possession when Rushing cut through the middle of the line of scrimmage to score from 35 yards out. With his PAT good and 7 minutes, 46 seconds to go in the first quarter, Thompson led 7-0.
Thompson’s Kenny Mahone scored from the 2 yard line with 3:27 left in the first quarter. Rushing’s PAT was good and the score was 14-0.
Bibb County’s next possession ended with a blocked punt by THS’ Tony Bell. Aaron Barranco picked up the botched punt and scored from about the 18 yard line. The successful PAT made the score 21-0 with 1:09 in the first quarter.
Rushing scored again in the second quarter on a 23-yard run. The PAT made the score 28-0 with 6:41 left in the half.
With 45 seconds to go, Rushing kicked a field goal to make the score 31-0 Thompson.
The Warriors scored quick in the third quarter. With 11:36 to go, a hand-off to Mahone and a successful PAT from Rushing made the score 38-0.
Bibb County’s only score of the night came on a 25-yard screen pass on third down. County’s two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, and the score was 38-6 with 7:56 to go in the third quarter.
With sophomore quarterback Daniel Hamlin leading the team, Thompson’s Blake Hunyuh scored once more with 10:44 to go in the fourth quarter to make the score 45-6.
The Warriors rushed 33 times for 345 yards.
Standouts on Thompson’s defense included senior Owen Griffin, junior Robin Oden, junior Erskine Hawkins, junior Anthony Wilson, senior Corey Eddins, senior Tony Bell, senior Casey Pnazek and junior Brandon Stone.
Thompson faces No. 1 ranked Homewood in a 5A region game next Friday at home