Eagles pummeled by McEachern in every facet

Cantrell Stadium – Marietta, GA

Bennett plows through the Eagle defense.

McEachern welcomed the Etowah Eagles into their friendly confines with not-so-friendly results.  The Indians seized a perfect opportunity to let the rest of Region 5-AAAAA know that they are back.  The defending champion, Eagles, were victims of a “pick your poison” drubbing Friday night.

All eyes were square upon senior running back, Rajaan Bennett, as the Indians took the field but it didn’t take notice the array of talent of the Indians.  Senior Demarius Matthews got the party started for the Indians with a 79-yard punt return for a score and Bennett followed with a 22-yard touchdown run before the Eagles even got their bearings straight.

The McEachern defensive front of defensive front of Darius Pitts, Tavontae Drake, and Mzee Jones kept the Etowah rushing attack bottled up, while Matthews and fellow defensive back, Treston Moore had blanket coverage on every receiver whenever Eagle quarterback, Braden Nolan dropped back.

The Indians kept Etowah off balance with their two-quarterback system manned by sophomore Trent Thompson and junior Dondre Purnell.  Jerrell Robertson joined the fun with a 17-yard burst up the middle, untouched, for yet another score to put the Indians up 21-3 at the end of the first half.

The Indians were not perfect.  They came out in the second half playing like a team that had already won and the Eagles took advantage.  Ryan Wilborn scored from eight yards out after the Eagles recovered a muffed punt and moved the ball easily against the Indian defense.  But things got back to normal pretty quickly.

Matthews and Marquis Roberts wrap up Eagle RB Jake Jones.

After back-to-back penalties put McEachern in a 4^th and 27 situation, a fake punt taken 79 yards to paydirt by Matthews pretty much sucked the life out of the Eagles.  Purnell broke loose for a 50-yard scoring run and Thompson hit Tray Fletcher for a 50-yard strike for six more to put the Indians up 42-10. 

The scoring barrage ended as Bennett punched it in from one yard to send the Eagles home scratching their heads and Indians home with their eyes firmly fixated on a championship run.

Final Score:  McEachern 49 – Etowah 10

Quick Hits:  Bennett was one yard shy of hitting the century mark finishing with 18 carries for 99 yards…there was a sparse crowd given the potential of the game…Klapp Presents:  Rajaan Bennett coming soon…

Players of the Game:

Etowah – RB Ryan Wilborn

McEachern – DB Demarius Matthews