By JASON GIBSON
Special to The Leader
Oak Grove’s Head Coach Mike Buchan said “We got lucky” after his hornets beat the North Pulaski Falcons 36-12 at North Pulaski on Friday.
The Hornets led 16-6 late in the third quarter and used a trick play, sending the quarterback out as a receiver and have running back Eric Parks take the snap.
Parks dropped back and completed a 63-yard touchdown pass, pushing the lead to 22-6.
Three plays later the Hornets defense forced a fumble and Joseph Harris picked it up and ran 38 yards for the touchdown. The Falcons answered in the fourth with Marvin Davis’ 21-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 36-12 with just over a minute to play.
In the second quarter the Hornets drove the length of the field setting up a fourth and goal from the 20-yard line.
“We thought we could just run it down them, we have been running over people for the last two weeks,” Buchan said.
The Hornets ran a quarterback keeper and the Falcons were waiting for him. Darius Cage made the tackle at the 5- yard line.
“Cage is the emotional leader of our defense,” North Pulaski coach Greg Hatcher said. “He played like a leader he was always around the ball.”
Buchan said the Falcons gave the Hornets more then they wanted or expected.
“We watched the tape on them and we thought it would be an easy game,” Buchan said.
“But this team has fight. They gave us more fight than any Falcons team has before and that’s a credit to that coach. They played us out of our socks.”
Hatcher said he felt good about this team and he knows it can win.
“We’re a work in progress, but we definitely played better tonight,” Hatcher said. “The defense played well.”
The difference between the first and second half was Parks. He ran for 136 yards and threw a 63-yard touchdown pass.
In the second half it seemed the Falcons could not stop him. He ran between the tackles all night didn’t avoid contact.
Parks rushed for 41 yards in the fourth quarter.
The Hornets defense accounted for two touchdowns, one on the opening drive of the game.
The Falcons were moving the ball and gaining confidence until senior Donald Bone intercepted a pass from Shyheim Barron.
Bone went 45 yards for the score.
The Falcons rallied in the second quarter on 15-play drive capped with a three-yard run up the middle by Cage.
The Touchdown cut the Hornets’ lead to 8-6 but the extra point was then blocked.
The Hornets (2-0) never trailed but North Pulaski (0-2) had a shot at the upset until Parks took over.
“Our offense looked better tonight,” said Hatcher, the former offensive coordinator. “Still not where we need to be, but we looked better.”
