TURNER — Leavitt doesn’t want to be reliant on just one component of football, whether it be the rushing or passing game.
The Hornets also want to get as many players involved as they can.
They’re off to a good start. Five players scored as the Hornets rolled to a 39-8 season-opening win over Medomak Valley on Friday night at Libby Field.
“I just think that makes us a dangerous team as the season goes on, and coaches are doing a nice job of getting their guys ready so that we can play a lot of guys,” said Leavitt head coach Michael Hathaway. “And we’re playing up-tempo, so you’ve got to play a lot of guys when you do that.”
Randan Hutchinson, Darren Flagg, Wyatt Henderson, Trey Hinkley and Landen Reny all wound up in the end zone for Leavitt.
“You spend all summer with these guys and you finally get to go on Libby Field under the lights, and it’s just nothing better than that,” said junior quarterback Landon Marquis, who connected with Flagg for two touchdowns and Henderson and Hinkley for one each. “You look forward to it all week and just to come together like that in the second half, couldn’t dream anything better.”
How it happened
• After Leavitt forced a Medomak Valley punt on the first possession of the game, Hutchinson’s 9-yard touchdown run was the first score of the new season. Flagg then intercepted Panthers quarterback Will Trainor’s pass on the Hornets’ next defensive possession.
• Leavitt only scored once more in the first half — an 11-yard touchdown pass from Marquis to Flagg. A 5-yard run by Medomak Valley’s Jaydiin Ruiz and Reid Grindle reception on the 2-point conversion put the Panthers on the board, and the Hornets led 14-8 at halftime.
• Leavitt controlled the entire second half. Marquis threw for three more touchdowns, and Reny’s 54-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter punctuated the Hornets’ team effort.
Unsung hero
Levi Negley’s impact isn’t necessarily visible on the stat sheet, but the junior offensive tackle’s blocking was paramount to Leavitt’s success in the run game. With the Hornets’ lead offensive lineman, senior Jamison L’Italien, out because of an injury, Negley proved he could step up and anchor the line.
Heard it here first
• “I’m sure most people thought this game was going to be over by halftime, and we were right in it. And credit to Leavitt, they did what championship programs do. They came out in the second half and just responded. So we’ll get there. It’s going to take a little bit of time, but we’re going to get there.” — Medomak Valley coach Ryan Snell
• “We started off a little rough in the first half, wasn’t going our way. Came out in the second half, we made some changes and then we just came out and our defense dominated, our offense did their thing. We have a great quarterback, we got a great O-Line, they just did their thing.” — Darren Flagg
Statistical leaders
• Leavitt: Landon Marquis (four TD passes), Randan Hutchinson (10 rushes, 48 yards, TD), Darren Flagg (five receptions, 73 yards, two TDs/INT)
• Medomak Valley: Jaydiin Ruiz (TD run)