No. 1 Hough overwhelms South Mecklenburg in second round playoff win
The top-seeded Hough Huskies had no intention of allowing underdog South Meck to think it could spring an upset Friday in the NC 4A West second round.
Hough scored two touchdowns in their first five plays from scrimmage and got touchdowns from their defense and special teams to cruise to a 42-7 over the 16-seed Sabres at Husky Stadium.
Hough wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, getting a 56-yard bomb from quarterback Tad Hudson to Darryl Taylor Jr 1:20 into the game. After a South Meck punt it took the Huskies just one play to score as Hudson threw a pass to Sequan Osborne who sprinted 55 yards past the South Meck defense to push the lead to 14-0.
“We started a lot better tonight than we have the past couple weeks,” Hough coach Matthew Jenkins said. “It was good to see us come out with some emotion from the start.”
South Meck put together a drive on their next possession, moving the ball to the Hough 24 yard line. But on the next play quarterback Cam Reese was picked off by Isaiah Murray at the nine and Murray would take the pick 91 yards for a score and a 21-0 advantage.
“Isaiah is a great football player who has a high football IQ,” Jenkins said. “He read it well, well enough to undercut the receiver and make the pick.”
After a touchdown run by Zayvion Turner-Knox pushed the lead to 35-0 the Huskies special teams added a score. Murray blocked a punt that Omari Philyaw recovered in the end zone. Hudson would throw another touchdown pass to Markell Quick late in the second putting Hough up 42-0 and they would roll to their 12th straight win.
“I thought offensively we came out hot,” quarterback Tad Hudson said. “I have the best receiving core in the state; we have a lot of weapons and I just have to keep doing a good job of finding them.”
Three who made a difference
Tad Hudson, Hough: Husky quarterback and North Carolina recruit was 10 of 12 passing for 192 yards and three touchdowns in just one half of play.
Isaiah Murray, Hough: Cornerback pretty much ended any chance of a South Meck comeback with a 91-yard interception return for a touchdown. Murray also blocked a punt which was recovered by the Huskies for another score.
Hough defense: Dominated the South Meck offense, allowing just 54 yards in the first half and forcing two Sabre turnovers. Hough has allowed 20 points in their last five games.
Worth mentioning
▪ On Hough’s first two touchdowns their receivers showed their speed, as Darryl Taylor and Sequan Osborne outsprinted South Meck defenders for their touchdowns. Add Markell Quick in who led Hough in receiving this season and that is hard for defenses to stop.
▪ It may not have ended how South Meck wanted but the Sabres have a lot to be proud of. Coach Joe Evans has turned this program around in a hurry, just two years removed from an 0-11 season.
▪ The 42 points Hough scored was the eighth time this season the Huskies have scored 40 or more in a game and they’ve hit 50 or more five times. If not for the second half running clock that number might’ve gone to six.
What’s Next?
Hough advances to the third round of the playoffs and will host Mallard Creek next Friday night. Hough defeated Mallard Creek 31-7 in their regular season matchup.
Scoring Summary
South Meck 0 0 7 0 7
Hough 21 21 0 0 42
H: Darryl Taylor Jr 56 pass from Tad Hudson (Nolan Hauser kick)
H: Sequan Osborne 55 pass from Hudson (Hauser kick)
H: Isaiah Murray 91 interception return (Hauser kick)
H: Zayvion Turner-Knox 4 run (Hauser kick)
H: Omari Philyaw recover block punt in end zone (Hauser kick)
H: Markell Quick 4 pass from Hudson (Hauser kick)
SM: Tiquez Mallette 22 pass from Cam Reese (Zane Davis kick)