Hutto
looked a lot different than it did last year, but the results were
still the same. While the offense needed some time to get going, the
defense dominated as the Hippos ran away from West Mesquite in a 41-21
win Saturday at Waco ISD Stadium in Waco, TX.
West
Mesquite scored on only one of its first ten possessions, and that came
on a drive that started at Hutto’s eight. Junior LSU commit Landyn
Watson combined with senior Lordswill Uwa and junior Braylon Sugg on a
defensive line that didn’t allow the Wranglers to get the push up front
necessary to move the ball consistently.
“To
put 41 points on the board, you’d think that’s an offensive number, but
let’s start with the defense and the way that they played,” said Hutto
head coach Brad LaPlante. “You noticed that they weren’t running inside?
They were throwing the screens outside to try to get downfield, or
running to the outside edge… They were not going to line up at their own
25 and drive the length of the field all day.”
West
Mesquite scored 14 of its points in the fourth quarter with the game
out of hand and Hutto playing its backups on defense. The defense even
got in on the scoring when senior Jordan Phoenix intercepted a tipped
pass and returned it 43 yards for Hutto’s first touchdown.
That
play helped spark a Hippo offense that started the game playing like it
had a lot of new faces. Sophomore quarterback Grayson Doggett’s first
pass was intercepted when he threw late on a short out route. West
Mesquite scored on the next play to take a 7-0 lead.
But
the offense dealt with few issues after that. Doggett rebounded nicely
and finished with 278 yards and a touchdown on 19-of-26 passing. Senior
Xavier Phoenix caught the lone score on a three-yard fade route.
Sophomore Jairiez Lambert provided a pair of explosive plays with
receptions of 40 and 41 yards. Senior Dajon Harrison, one of Hutto’s
lone returning starters, caught five balls for 55 yards.
“(Doggett
is) fine. If you’re ever going to judge a kid based on one play you’re
probably not going to be in the business very long. If you saw our
coaching staff, all we did was go back and coach,” LaPlante said. “His
maturity is way beyond a sophomore, as well.”
Hutto
was also able to lean on a run game that churned out 196 yards on 30
carries, most of which came in the second half. Senior Makhi Kimble (18
carries, 148 yards, three touchdowns) helped put the game out of reach
with scoring jaunts of 68 and 26 yards in the third quarter. Senior
Kendall Williams (five carries, 46 yards, one touchdown) scampered for a
19-yard score in the fourth quarter to cap a 42-0 run for the Hippos.
“Here’s
the deal with Mekhi, he’s kind of been the secret,” LaPlante said.
“Last year we had a different brand of offense with (former running
back) Chux Nwabakou where we were throwing the ball a little bit more.
But even though Mekhi is not a huge guy, he can run between the tackles.
He’s got great feet. He’s got great vision. He keeps his feet going. He
just moves the pile. I’m going to say he’s the reason our offensive
line got better today because they believed in him, so that’s just how
one player can make the guys elite around him… But I think that we made
an identity for our offense through the game that we have not been able
to do during fall camp.”