McEachern stays with winning formula

By Chip Saye

For the AJC

McEachern used its familiar formula on Friday night -- big plays plus running back Rajaan Bennett -- and the result was another blowout victory for the Indians.

McEachern (8-0 overall and 7-0 in Region 5-AAAAA) scored five touchdowns that covered 59 yards or more, and Bennett rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries, as the Indians cruised to a 48-8 victory against rival Harrison at Cantrell Stadium. It was the sixth time this season, and fourth in a row, that the Indians have scored at least 42 points.

McEachern led 21-0 at the end of the first quarter despite running only five plays on offense. Syquan Hudson returned a blocked field-goal attempt 85 yards for a touchdown, Trent Thompson hit Rory Anderson with a 91-yard pass for a score, and Dondre Purnell passed 62 yards to Amba Etta-Tawo for another touchdown in the Indians’ 21-point first quarter.

Harrison (4-4, 4-3) rallied briefly midway through the second quarter, blocking a punt for a safety and getting a 19-yard touchdown run by Christian Turnipseed to cut the lead to 21-8. But Demarius Matthews, who blocked Harrison’s field-goal attempt that led to McEachern’s first score, gave the Indians a comfortable lead again, returning a punt 90 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the first half.

“We’ve got good talent across the board, and it’s almost hard to spread the ball around sometimes,” McEachern coach Kyle Hockman said. “But the kids are doing a great job of being unselfish. ... It was a great job by the quarterbacks and the receivers. It was a lot of fun.”

Bennett had only 30 yards rushing in the first half, but he had 84 more -- and two touchdowns -- in the second half on only five carries. His final carry of the night went 59 yards for his second touchdown with 4:37 to play in the third quarter.

Turnipseed was the bright spot for Harrison. He rushed for 149 yards on 11 carries.

McEachern needs just one victory in its final two games to clinch its first region championship in 10 years.

“We haven’t talked a lot about [the region title],” Hockman said. “We’ve been trying to keep our blinders on and get better each week.”

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