Hornet Sports
Related Photos
-
D.J Shafer
Tools
Hornets run wild
Gilbert, Ross combine to rush for more than 300 yards in 41-28 victory over Magnolia
MAGNOLIA — Huntsville has discovered a deadly combination of thunder and lightning.
In seniors Shaquille Ross and Justin Gilbert, the Hornets have a 1-2 punch that knocked out another opponent Friday. Ross rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns, while Gilbert ran for 248 yards and two more scores.
Ross and Gilbert even hooked up on a 17-yard touchdown pass to lead the Hornets to a 41-28 victory over Magnolia.
The win was the Hornets’ third in a row and fourth in five District 18-4A games. With Friday’s victory, Huntsville (5-3 overall) closed in on its second consecutive playoff berth, something the Hornets have not done since the 1991 and ’92 seasons when Joe Clements was Huntsville’s head coach.
“We’re close, but I don’t know for a fact that we’re in the playoffs yet,” Hornets head coach Mitchell Coey said. “It depends on what happened in other games tonight.”
That hardly mattered to Coey and his players. They were excited about putting another notch in the win column, one that came with relative ease.
While the speedy and slippery Gilbert hurt the Bulldogs by going zig, zag, zoom, Ross, the bull, went boom, boom, boom.
Huntsville took a 35-14 lead early in the fourth period when Ross banged in from 5 yards out. Magnolia, which dropped to 2-3 in district play and 5-3 on the season, scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns, but the outcome was never really in doubt.
Running behind the blocking of Jamaal Lenoir, J.R. Venette, Jimmy Spivey, Xavier Briggs and Forbes Baggett, Gilbert and Ross made sure the Bulldogs did not get too close. After Magnolia scored to make it 35-21, Gilbert took off on runs of 13 and 32 yards. The future Oklahoma State Cowboy hurdled a Bulldog defender standing straight up on one play.
Ross capped the quick 90-yard drive with a nifty 16-yard TD run.
“With me at quarterback and Shaq at running back, it’s hard for a defense to focus on one of us,” Gilbert said. “We’re a pretty dangerous duo. Plus, we’ve got some good receivers in Mark (Wheeler), Gabe (Franklin) and Tre (Byrd). (Ross) Nesselrode made a couple of good catches tonight, too.”
In addition to his 248 yards on 14 carries, Gilbert completed 10-of-17 passes for 165 yards with no interceptions.
Franklin caught four passes for 78 yards, Nesselrode snagged two throws for 38 yards, while Byrd and Wheeler caught one pass apiece. Ross cashed in on that part of the game, too. He caught two passes for 51 yards.
For the first time since beating Caney Creek in the district opener, the Hornets did not turn the ball over.
“We’re starting to play consistently,” Coey said. “We’re not getting hit with a whole lot of penalties like early in the season, plus we’re starting to take care of the football.
“Everything is starting to come together. We’re playing well together — each week we get a little better.”
Gilbert, who put his name in the Huntsville High School record book Friday with the sixth-best single-game rushing performance, said he’s feeling much more comfortable leading the Hornet offense.
“I have a lot more confidence in my line right now,” Gilbert said. “They’ve gotten a lot better at blocking, staying on their blocks and doing what our coaches are asking them to do.”
Venette said it took some time to learn the blocking schemes in the Hornets’ new spread offense, but the players have made steady progress that is starting to pay big dividends.
“We’re moving as one instead of individuals now,” Venette said. “Tonight, we played against two really good defensive tackles and we shut them down.”
Venette said it’s fun blocking for play-makers like Gilbert and Ross.
“It’s a sight to see J. Gil,” Venette said. “He makes amazing cuts, then leaps over a guy. That definitely motivates you. When he makes plays like that, it makes you want to make plays.”
The Hornets head back to Magnolia next week to take on the Mustangs of Magnolia West.
- Hornet Sports
-
-
Lady Hornets bound for playoffs
The Lady Hornets are in the state soccer playoffs.
-
Cooper to take over Hornet defense
Shane Martin did not have to look far to find the guy who will fill his old shoes with the Hornets football program.
Huntsville’s new head football coach promoted David Cooper, one of his hard-working assistants, to defensive coordinator, the job Martin held for the past two seasons. -
Huntsville's Baggett jumps at chance to play in Space City Classic
Out of the blue, Huntsville senior Forbes Baggett got some good news Tuesday.
An all-district offensive and defensive lineman, Baggett received an invitation to play in the Space City Classic, an all-star football game featuring Houston-area players. The game is scheduled Saturday evening at Delmar Stadium in Houston. -
Trying to make history
The floor at Hornet Gym sure looked crowded Wednesday afternoon. That’s because there were 13 players running around like crazy — five on offense and eight on defense.
To get his team ready for Friday’s Region III semifinal game against Houston Yates, Huntsville coach Larry Carlson wisely devised a practice schedule that includes a hectic press-break drill complete with eight yellow-shirted defenders. -
Fish in the water
Huntsville freshmen Matthew Bitara and Sierra Wagner could hardly contain their excitement Thursday afternoon when talking about their upcoming meet.
The young Huntsville duo will be among the state’s top swimmers as they race in the UIL Swimming and Diving State Championships, which begin this morning at the Jamail Texas Swim Center in Austin. - Hornets excited about area-round clash with No. 25 C.E. King
-
Alive and kicking
HOUSTON — Kingwood Park hung around and hung around, but the Lady Hornets were just too strong down the stretch.
Huntsville finally wore down a feisty Lady Panthers squad in the fourth quarter to cruise to a 69-54 victory in the area round of the Class 4A girls basketball playoffs Friday night at the Campbell Center. -
Huntsville girls to put Panthers in pressure cooker
While the Lady Hornets were taking care of Elgin in the bi-district round of the playoffs Tuesday night, Huntsville assistant girls basketball coach Mike Ray was scouting Huntsville’s next opponent.
The Lady Hornets (23-7) are set to battle Kingwood Park in the area round today at 6 p.m. at the Campbell Center in Houston. -
Confident and ready
Huntsville girls basketball coach Jay Oliphant is not the least bit nervous about his first trip to the playoffs.
-
Another Huntsville swimmer qualifies for state
Matthew Bitara already started making plans for Austin for the state swimming meet in nearly two weeks, but now he’ll have some company.
Monday morning, fellow Huntsville freshman Sierra Wagner received some good news when she was listed as a call-up in two events and will be joining Bitara at the state meet.
- More Hornet Sports Headlines
-
Lady Hornets bound for playoffs
