Tucker hadn’t seen a lot of effective passing offenses this season. They got an eyeful Friday night.
McEachern quarterback Bailey Hockman and receiver TJ Rahming both had huge nights, piling up big plays to lead the Indians to a 62-36 win over Tucker in the Class AAAAAA quarterfinals.
McEachern will travel to Colquitt County for a semifinal matchup next weekend. The Indians’ 62 points is the most Tucker has surrendered in a game in its football history, dating back to 1950. And it could have been more -- probably much more.
Hockman, one of the nation’s most highly recruited sophomore quarterbacks, finished 16 of 25 for 438 yards and 4 TDs, completing passes of 47, 55, 50, 35, 46 and 97 yards, with four of those explosive passing plays going to Rahming.
The Duke commit’s numbers may have been even more impressive than Hockman’s, as he caught 7 balls for 258 yards and 2 TDs, along with taking a punt back 77 yards for a touchdown.
The duo has had some big nights this season, but this may have been the biggest, on the biggest stage.
The exclamation point came on the first play of the third quarter, with the Indians backed up on their 3-yard line following a goal-line stand that kept Tucker out of the end zone.
Brockman took a short drop into the end zone and saw Rahming streaking down the left sideline, well clear of his defender. He hit Rahming in stride, and he continued untouched for the Indians' final score, making it 62-28.
McEachern’s offense was nearly unstoppable in the first half, amassing 304 passing yards and only punting once.
The Indians wasted no time getting on the board, throwing two incomplete passes on the game’s first possession before Sam Jackson broke through the line for 27 yards, then 48 yards to give McEachern a 7-0 lead.
Two possessions later, Hockman showed off his arm, slinging it 47 yards to Rahming to the 1-yard line. Brockman punched it in one play later for a 14-0 lead.
Following a Tucker punt, McEachern again struck quickly on its next possession, with Hockman connecting with Rahming for 24 yards, then Tyler Smith for 55 yards and the score that made it 21-0, less than 9 minutes into the game.
Tucker showed some spark, though, particularly on McEachern’s next possession, when the Indians had first and goal at the Tucker 1. Three unsuccessful Hockman runs, followed by Quay Holmes being stopped a yards shy of the goal line, gave the ball back to the Tigers.
And, just when it looked like Tucker might get rolled into mercy-rule territory late in the first half, the Tigers put together a 59-yard drive, capped by a Delvin Weems touchdown run with 1:00 left in the first half to make it 42-21 going into the locker room.
