In a battle for sole possession of first place in Region 3-AAAAAA, Langston Hughes’ Keion Davis turned in a first-place-worthy performance and spoiled East Coweta’s homecoming game.
Davis keyed the Panthers’ 42-14 win, rushing for 237 yards and five touchdowns and adding an interception.
It was the seventh consecutive win for Hughes (7-1, 3-0 in 3-AAAAAA), which defeated East Coweta 28-14 in 2012.
Kinan Humphrey passed for 135 yards for Hughes, which held East Coweta (4-4, 2-1) to 27 net rushing yards and 199 yards total.
Hughes never trailed and broke open a tight game with three fourth-quarter touchdowns. It was the sixth time in eight games the Panthers topped 35 points.
While East Coweta’s Bryce Gemmel passed for 172 yards, the Panthers’ defense intercepted four passes and recovered a fumbled punt snap to set up a key score. Montavious Atkinson, Kalil Gray and Jaylin Boyd all had interceptions in the fourth quarter.
The loss ended East Coweta’s three-game winning streak.
Hughes needed three plays to notch its first score, a 4-yard run by Davis, who set up the score with a 35-yard run.
After East Coweta’s Cole Antley just missed wide left on a 51-yard field-goal attempt, Hughes drove 80 yards in 12 plays to its second score, Davis’ 1-yard run with 2:26 left in the first period. The Panthers converted three third downs on the drive.
The Indians notched their first score early in the second period on Malik Robinson’s 3-yard run to finish off an 11-play, 61-yard drive.
Hughes stretched its lead to 21-7 on Davis’ 3-yard run late in the third quarter.
East Coweta cut the lead to 21-14 on Bryce Gemmel’s 34-yard pass to Markell Boston.
The Indians forced a punt and got the ball back with a chance to pull even, but they could not move the ball. Antley dropped the punt snap, and Hughes fell on it at the East Coweta 9-yard line early in the fourth quarter.
The Panthers capitalized and began pulling away. Davis scored his fourth touchdown on a 9-yard run, and two plays after Atkinson intercepted an East Coweta pass with 8:25 left in the game, Davis bolted 53 yards for his final touchdown.
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