Any proud team that feels snubbed will play with a chip on their shoulders. Going into the football season, most of the discourse in the new 10-3A Div. II centered around two teams: Pewitt and DeKalb.
There was likely one team in the district that felt a bit slighted by that discourse – the Hooks Hornets. The Hornets also made the playoffs last season, losing tight games to the Brahmas by 11 points and the Bears by six.
Hooks likely remembered that summer snub and how close they were to beating both teams and played with that chip on their shoulders, using a 28-14 run and benefitting from two second half turnovers to hold off the Brahmas in Friday’s district opener, 56-40.
Pewitt was paced by James Byrd and Hayden Green. Byrd rushed for 136 yards and four touchdowns on the night, from four, 30, two and two yards out.
Green ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns from 19 and nine yards.
The Brahmas and Hornets got into another high-scoring shootout, as has seemed to be the norm for their recent matchups. The difference this time around was the performance of Hornet quarterback Trip Baysinger, who accounted for six touchdowns – three rushing and three passing.
Baysinger ran for scores of six, 35 and 17 yards and threw a 72-yard touchdown pass to Caver Hicks, a 10-yard score to Carter Harris and a 16-yard pass to Matt Hayes.
Keyshawn Wells added two touchdown runs, covering 26 and 65 yards.
Hooks also benefited from Pewitt turnovers, with two fumbles leading directly to Hornet scores.
The Brahmas will look for their first win on the road at Dragon Stadium as they travel to Redwater Friday night. The Dragons dropped their district opener to New Boston, 29-14. Redwater stayed within striking distance most of the night, but the Lions put the game away with a score in the fourth quarter. New Boston ran for 188 yards against the Dragons. Redwater is 2-3 on the year with wins over Winona and New Diana and losses to New Boston, Atlanta and Waskom.
In other district games Friday, Prairiland travels to Hooks and DeKalb hosts New Boston.