Hornets gain Homecoming victory
Published 12:00 am Sunday, September 22, 2002
If you blinked, you may have missed it.
James Jones, Jr. fielded the opening kickoff and returned it 69 yards for a touchdown to open the Hornet scoring.
His dazzling return opened a floodgate of touchdowns as Dallas County racked up 28 first-quarter points on their way to a 48-6 homecoming victory over Livingston.
The Hornets spread the scoring around with Clifford Lyons, Donovan Dixon, and Randall Browder all reaching the end zone in the opening stanza.
Using a surprise on-side kick on their first kickoff, the Hornets recovered the ball at the Cougar 45.
It took just four plays for the offense to punch it in.
Antonio Shelton was perfect on the night on extra points, nailing six out of six.
The second Hornet drive went for 57 yards in six plays, with the big play being a 29-yard sweep by Browder to the Cougar 25.
Dixon finished the drive with a six-yard run around right end.
The final Hornet score of the first quarter came on a fourth and three at the Cougar 26.
Browder broke free on the option and raced the final distance into the end zone.
After the wild first quarter, both teams looked a bit flat in the second quarter, as neither was able to score.
Hornet coach Tom Causey addressed that issue after the game.
&uot;We hit a lull in practice this week, and we let down tonight,&uot; he mused.
&uot;That’s my fault.&uot;
The Cougars returned in the second half to mount an impressive 73-yard drive that consumed over five minutes, with Jermaine Robertson scoring their one and only score from 24 yards out.
The two-point conversion pass was batted down by none other than Randall Browder and the score stood 28-6.
The Hornets responded in true championship form with a 64-yard, 12-play drive of their own.
Carlos Peoples capped the drive with a bruising eight-yard run across the goal line with 1:49 remaining in the third.
The green team led 35-6.
In the final quarter, the Hornet offense put together two scoring drives.
The first was a fast 67 yards in just four plays, with Clifford Lyons scoring his second TD of the night.
The final drive came after a Livingston fumble gave the Hornets the ball at the Cougar 34.
Back-up running back Rafel Miller scored on an 11-yard sweep around left end to close out the night.
Causey gave credit to his offense for throwing the ball better and completing more passes.
He praised the efforts of quarterback Donovan Dixon in guiding the team.
When asked about the upcoming game with county-rival Keith, he was quick to respond.
Dallas County will host the Keith Bears this Friday night in Plantersville, also a first.
Until last year, these two had always played on a neutral field.
It should be an exciting time.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.