McEachern hangs on, tops East Paulding

By CHIP SAYE

For the AJC

On a night when his offense rolled up almost 600 yards, the story of the game for McEachern coach Kyle Hockman was his defense.

Enlarge photo

Johnny Crawford, jcrawford@ajc.com McEachern's punt return team knocks the helmet off of East Paulding's Vinson Holmes (28) in the first quarter.

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Three times in the second half, East Paulding moved inside the McEachern 10-yard line and came away with no points, and McEachern held on for a 31-21 victory on Friday night.

The Indians outgained East Paulding 598-286 in total offense, and in the process, took firm command of the Region 5-AAAAA race. McEachern, No. 9 in Class AAAAA, is 4-0 and 3-0 in the region, with the toughest part of the schedule behind it. East Paulding is 2-1, 1-1.

“No question the defense was the story,” Hockman said. “We’ve been working our tails off on our [kick] coverages because they’ve been breaking down, and they got several tonight inside our red zone. Obviously they got some big plays on us, but we kept battling and battling.”

McEachern led just 10-7 at halftime, despite outgaining the Raiders 308-82 in the first two quarters. But the Indians put the game in Rajaan Bennett’s hands in the second half, and he came through once again.

Bennett, who came into the game averaging 144 rushing yards, finished with 182 yards, including 127 in the second half, and two touchdowns on 25 carries.

His fumble with just less than 6 minutes to go in the game and his team clinging to a 24-21 lead gave East Paulding the ball at the McEachern 35. But the Indians’ defense made a stand, forcing East Paulding to fumble the ball right back three plays later, giving McEachern the ball at its 3.

Bennett then atoned for his mistake, carrying the ball on five of the next six plays, the last one of which he took 35 yards for the game-clinching touchdown.

“When it gets to be tough times, we’re going to give it to [Bennett],” Hockman said. “He made a mistake, but he doesn’t make many of them. He came over after that fumble and said, ‘Coach, let me finish it for you.’ ”

East Paulding took a 7-0 lead on its second possession when quarterback Idris Anderson ran in from the 1. Vinson Holmes set up the score with a 39-yard punt return to the McEachern 18.

The Raiders appeared to be on their way to increasing their lead on their next possession, moving from their 20 to the McEachern 30 in four plays. But Harold Queen fumbled and the Indians recovered at their 40 and stopped the drive.

Dondre Purnell, one of McEachern’s two quarterbacks, completed four passes for 215 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown to Amba Etta-Tawo and a 79-yard touchdown to Tray Fletcher.

-- Produced by Georgia High School Football Daily