Hawthorne Football’s Special Teams Flip Script on Wakulla

HAWTHORNE – Hawthorne used yet another dominant defensive effort Friday, a strong rushing attack and several game-changing special teams plays to overcome an early deficit in defeating the Wakulla War Eagles 28-14.

Wakulla (5-2) struck first when receiver Demarkus Roberts took a screen pass to the end zone and quarterback Jaylen Jones tacked on the two-point conversion to give the War Eagles an 8-0 lead.

Hawthorne (7-0) was initially unable to respond, but its special teams provided a much-needed spark. 

Maverick Jones returned a Wakulla punt for a touchdown. Dakarai Wiggins ran in the ensuing two-point conversion to tie the game at 8. 

“Maverick Jones made a huge play in the special teams game,” Hawthorne coach Cornelius Ingram said. “He just used his natural talent and athleticism to get into the end zone, that really sparked us.”

The spark instantly shifted the momentum in Hawthorne’s favor when the Hornets recovered a Wakulla fumble on the kickoff. 

Wiggins capitalized with a rushing touchdown before adding another two-point conversion to put the Hornets up 16-8 with 7:28 remaining in the first half. 

The Hornets’ defense made yet another opportunity when Jayvyn Comer intercepted a Wakulla pass with 4:51 remaining in the half, setting up Wiggins’ second rushing touchdown of the quarter. After the two-point conversion failed Hawthorne went into halftime up 22-8.

After halftime, the only action came from a 60-yard rushing touchdown from Hawthorne’s Treston Jones out of the Wildcat. After another failed two-point attempt the Hornets sat firmly with a 28-8 lead.

Wakulla added a late touchdown when a deflected pass landed in the hands of a War Eagles receiver, who took it to the end zone with a minute remaining in the game. The following two-point conversion and onside kick failed. 

After allowing the game’s opening touchdown, Hawthorne scored 28 unanswered points and held the War Eagles scoreless until the final minute.

“Good win for us, gritty win,” Ingram said. “We find ways to be in that win column and that is all you can ask for, especially this part of the year when we’re trying to tune up for the playoffs.”

Hawthorne next travels to Chiefland (3-4) to play the Indians at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a 1A-District 4 matchup. 

Category: Hawthorne High School, High School Sports