A week after struggling through a 27-10 victory over a 1-5 Marietta team, seventh-ranked McEachern has reasserted itself in Region 4-AAAAAA.
Sam Jackson rushed for 183 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries and the defense turned in a dominant effort to lead the Indians to a 35-0 victory Friday in Powder Springs that moved them into sole possession of first place in the region.
Jackson scored three times in the second quarter, on runs of 11, 1 and 73 yards, to give McEachern (5-1, 2-0) a 21-0 halftime lead. Jackson was the leading gainer for an offense that rolled to 435 yards, 268 of which came in the first half. Tyler Simmons added 58 yards on four carries, and Quay Holmes had 50 yards on six carries. Quarterback Bailey Hockman was 13-for-20 passing for 157 yards and threw second-half touchdown passes to Christian Roberson (4 yards) and Simmons (21 yards).
The defense, meanwhile, held North Cobb to 121 total yards, including minus-5 rushing, thanks in large part to six sacks that produced 48 yards in losses. Bryce Sims also had an interception that set up Jackson’s 73-yard score.
“We try to focus like crazy every minute of every day,” McEachern coach Kyle Hockman said. “We try to teach these kids that no matter who we’re playing, no matter what the situation is, that it’s important, that every rep is important. Our kids handled that real well.”
McEachern controlled field position and the statistics from the start, holding North Cobb to minus-13 yards on three first-quarter possessions. But the Indians didn’t take advantage until Jackson’s 11-yard touchdown run on the second play of the second quarter. McEachern drove 74 and 82 yards for touchdowns on its next two possessions for the 21-point halftime lead.
Earlier this season, North Cobb (3-4, 2-1) scored 24 points against Class AAAAA No. 1 Northside-Warner Robins and 31 points against AAAA No. 1 Cartersville, but the Warriors never had a real scoring chance against McEachern. North Cobb drove to the McEachern 21-yard line early in the second quarter, but two penalties and a sack moved the ball all the way back to its 40, where the Warriors faced second-and-49. They punted from midfield two plays later.
North Cobb reached the 18 late in the game but turned the ball over on downs.
Warriors quarterback Will Lovett passed for 126 yards but was under constant pressure. He scrambled to find room for a couple of nice completions in the first half but finished 13-for-34.
The Warriors fell into a tie for second place with Harrison and Hillgrove, but North Cobb holds the tiebreaker advantage after beating both teams.
“North Cobb is a heck of a program,” Kyle Hockman said. “They’re young, and they’re going to be really good in the next couple of years.”
North Cobb – 0-0-0-0 – 0
McEachern – 0-21-7-7 – 35
M – Sam Jackson 11 run (Cesar Dominguez kick)
M – Jackson 1 run (Dominguez kick)
M – Jackson 73 run (Dominguez kick)
M – Christian Roberson 4 pass from Bailey Hockman (Dominguez kick)
M – Tyler Simmons 21 pass from Hockman (Dominguez kick)
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