Went out to the big Metro showcase game last night at Vanderbilt stadium and despite it being a rather penalty-ridden game (which can be expected in Week 1), Hillsboro and Pearl Cohn produced a thrilling back-and-forth game. The Firebirds were in the redzone attempting to tie the game up at 35 with about 10 seconds left, but Hillsboro picked off Jimmy Ferrell at around the 5-yard line and returned it for a touchdown to end the game. That touchdown made the final score a bit deceiving.
- As I mentioned the game featured a lot of penalties, mostly of the illegal procedure/illegal formation/false start kind and also featured a lot of momentum shifting turnovers. Along with the interception noted above, Hillsboro also picked off a Pearl Cohn pass in the endzone earlier in the game. The Firebirds had a couple of momentum shifting turnovers as well in the form of a fumble return for a touchdown and another forced fumble on a Hillsboro breakaway run that was going for a touchdown.
- The game featured a couple of Vanderbilt targets in PC's Rontavious Groves and Hillsboro 2017 DT Ben Hutch. I'll have a nice video feature on Hutch later, he was a real pleasure to talk too and spoke very high of Vanderbilt as well.
- Hillsboro did a good job defensively of shutting down Groves on offense, he only had about three catches on the afternoon for minimum yards. However, Groves made his presence felt on defense, forcing a fumble on a big hit across the middle on a Hillsboro running back that broke free and would have scored if not for Groves' speed. Groves also had a leaping interception on the sideline on a ball that was intended for Hillsboro wide receiver Jay King.
- Hillsboro's Ben Hutch really stands out on the football field size-wise. He was a space eater all night along the Burro's defensive line and made a couple of big tackles, including a QB sack that forced PC into a very long 4th and long situation in the 4th quarter. You can tell Hutch is developing into one of the state's best defensive tackle prospects in the 2017 class.
- Also, Keshawn Vaughn's little brother, Ke'Juan, looked really solid running the ball for the Firebirds last night. While Ke'Juan is a bit undersized physically, he's definitely cut from the same athletic mold as his older brother. He could have a big year as the primary running back for Pearl Cohn.
- I also talked with Hillsboro safety Malique Fleming and congratulated him on his commitment to Mercer. He told me he is still waiting to see if Vanderbilt will offer him though. He made some nice plays in the secondary last night and relishes that leadership role on defense.
Overall, it was a great way to start off our high school football features. Another highlight from Saturday night is I got my picture taken with Nashville rapper Young Buck. I still bump Straight Outta Cashville quite often.
- As I mentioned the game featured a lot of penalties, mostly of the illegal procedure/illegal formation/false start kind and also featured a lot of momentum shifting turnovers. Along with the interception noted above, Hillsboro also picked off a Pearl Cohn pass in the endzone earlier in the game. The Firebirds had a couple of momentum shifting turnovers as well in the form of a fumble return for a touchdown and another forced fumble on a Hillsboro breakaway run that was going for a touchdown.
- The game featured a couple of Vanderbilt targets in PC's Rontavious Groves and Hillsboro 2017 DT Ben Hutch. I'll have a nice video feature on Hutch later, he was a real pleasure to talk too and spoke very high of Vanderbilt as well.
- Hillsboro did a good job defensively of shutting down Groves on offense, he only had about three catches on the afternoon for minimum yards. However, Groves made his presence felt on defense, forcing a fumble on a big hit across the middle on a Hillsboro running back that broke free and would have scored if not for Groves' speed. Groves also had a leaping interception on the sideline on a ball that was intended for Hillsboro wide receiver Jay King.
- Hillsboro's Ben Hutch really stands out on the football field size-wise. He was a space eater all night along the Burro's defensive line and made a couple of big tackles, including a QB sack that forced PC into a very long 4th and long situation in the 4th quarter. You can tell Hutch is developing into one of the state's best defensive tackle prospects in the 2017 class.
- Also, Keshawn Vaughn's little brother, Ke'Juan, looked really solid running the ball for the Firebirds last night. While Ke'Juan is a bit undersized physically, he's definitely cut from the same athletic mold as his older brother. He could have a big year as the primary running back for Pearl Cohn.
- I also talked with Hillsboro safety Malique Fleming and congratulated him on his commitment to Mercer. He told me he is still waiting to see if Vanderbilt will offer him though. He made some nice plays in the secondary last night and relishes that leadership role on defense.
Overall, it was a great way to start off our high school football features. Another highlight from Saturday night is I got my picture taken with Nashville rapper Young Buck. I still bump Straight Outta Cashville quite often.
