HURRICANE — Hurricane’s defense pitched a shutout until the game’s final 90 seconds and Adam Thompson made several spectacular runs as Hurricane whipped Skyline 20-7 Friday night.
Thompson rushed for 118 yards and had several dramatic kick returns on a night that started windy and wet and ended up as a perfect football night in the Hurricane Valley.
“We’re going to enjoy this tonight, but it’s just one game and Monday we’ll be back at work,” Thompson said. “We made a lot of mistakes tonight — first game jitters. But we know what we need to work on.”
It was a strange night early on as Hurricane lived up to its name with a strong and wet wind. The Tigers first two possession went nowhere against the wind and a decent Skyline defense.
The net yardage after those possessions for Hurricane was minus-four yards. But the defense was strong and after holding the Eagles for the second time, the Tigers caught a break.
The Skyline punter mis-handled a punt snap and was tackled back at the Skyline 24-yard line. Hurricane then used seven plays to cover the 24 yards to the end zone, with Jared Edwards punching it in from three yards out.
“You know, when all that was going against us, the wind and the field position, I didn’t see anyone panicking,” Hurricane coach Chris Homer said. “A few years ago, before we’d established what we have the last four years, I think maybe there would have been some of that panic.”
After the Edwards score, which came with three minutes left in the first quarter, Hurricane’s defense again held strong, forcing a three-and-out.
With the ball back in their hands, the Tigers struck quickly this time, roaring down the field to cover 58 yards in just five plays.
Hurricane’s TD this time came on a pass. On the first play of the second quarter, Zac Prince found a wide open Bennett Heyrend at about the 20-yard line. The senior tight end rumbled the rest of the way for the score, making it 13-0.
“You know, no one has worked harder in the weight room this off season than Bennett Heyrend,” Homer said. “It’s nice to see that hard work get rewarded. The kids can see that if you work hard, it will pay off.”
Skyline mounted a drive late in the half, but Hurricane’s defense squelched the threat by bashing Eagles QB Tyler Snyder out of bounds at the two-yard line on fourth and goal.
Hurricane scored early in the third quarter to put the game on ice. Thompson showed off his exceptional speed by breaking a run 66 yards for a score to make it 20-0 with 8:44 left in the third.
“I guess I got my speed from my mom,” Thompson said. “She ran track in college. It’s nice being fast, that’s for sure.”
The Tigers, who have won 14 straight games, got 118 yards from Thompson. Edwards had 46 yards and a score in his debut at fullback for Hurricane.
The Tigers play at West Jordan next week. Hurricane beat the Jaguars last season by 12.
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