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Opening Kickoff Return TD Helps Hawks Crush Oakville in Class 6
HAWK DEFENSE ON ATTACK–Hazelwood Central defenders (dark jerseys) go on the attack in last Saturday’s 38-8 state semifinal win over visiting Oakville
Story & photo by Jim Wieners
It took only 13 seconds for Hazelwood Central to get on the scoreboard last Friday in the Class Six Football semifinals and the Hawks never looked back on their way to a 38-8 home win over Oakville last Saturday.
As many of the fans, and this reporter, were outside Hawks Stadium waiting to get in senior Spencer Davis took the opening kickoff from the Hawk four yard line, went from one-sideline to another and raced up past the Hazelwood Central bench and along the sideline. He went untouched for the 96-yard return for the game-opening touchdown.
“These kids and these coaches work tirelessly year-round,” said Hazelwood Central head coach Rich Nixon. That includes the addition of first-year special teams coach J.C. Kline, who also works with the defensive line. One of the special teams player, senior kicker Ryan Crandall booted a 32-yard field goal in the second quarter and was perfect on five extra points.
Senior quarterback Kerry Gibson contributed to two Hawk touchdowns. Gibson ran for a first-quarter touchdown from six yards out with 3:26 left in the first quarter. Late in the second quarter he threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to senior Jawyne Thomas. After the game Gibson helped pick up the yard markers from the visiting side of the field and Nixon mentioned his post-game effort to reporters.
“Kerry Gibson goes out and competes,” Nixon said. Gibson competed eight out of 14 passes for 157 yards while carrying the ball nine times for 63 yards.
In the third quarter Gibson misplayed a bad snap that put the Hawks back to near the goal line and with 8:10 left Oakville got a tackle in the end zone for a safety. As Oakville tried to cut into a 24-2 deficit on their next possession junior Alonzo Chapelle stripped the ball from a Tiger carrier and recovered the fumble. “Chapelle is a special young man,” Nixon said, Chapelle is vocal and “he is earned the right to be a leader,” especially on defense.
Central made sure the game was out of reach for Oakville in the fourth quarter. Junior Tra Brown scored six seconds into the fourth quarter while junior Rodney Smith, who carried the ball 13 times for 101 yards, scored from a yard out with 9:27 left. That second touchdown in the fourth quarter gave the Hawks a 38-2 lead and a non-stop clock, for games in the second half that have at least a 35-point margin, went into effect until Oakville scored with 26 seconds left, a five-yard Joe Plassmeyer to Mike Cyliax touchdown pass.
The semifinal win for the 12-1 Hawks was the 14th out of 14 semifinal games, including 1972 as Hazelwood High. It was the first semifinal game for Oakville, who finished with a 9-4 record.
