THE HORNETS’ NEST | Trip to Athens proves problematic for young Henderson team
For 2 ½ quarters, it looked every bit like the Henderson Lions might just get out of Athens Friday night with a win.
But Athens quarterback Khion Brown – only a sophomore – ran for 180 yards and four touchdowns, and also threw a pair of touchdown passes in dealing the Lions a 48-35 loss.
Brown did his 180 yards’ worth of rushing damage on just 13 carries, and he only missed on one pass: he went 7-of-8 for 95 yards and the pair of TD passes.
And it wasn’t just Brown. Running back Mitrevion Thompson had 178 yards and included one of the most difficult feats to accomplish in football: a 99-yard touchdown run.
Thompson finished with just eight carries.
For Henderson, young quarterback Blake Meeks, also a sophomore, went 20-of-29 for 205 yards and an interception; he didn’t have a touchdown pass this week. He did finish with 16 yards rushing and a score.
Senior running back Jayden Bishop had 139 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 18 carries, averaging about 7 ½ yards a carry for coach Ricky Meeks’ team.
Sophomore Michael Russell only had five carries and 11 yards, but two of them were for touchdowns. The Lions finished with an impressive rushing game number: 224 yards and five scores on 30 carries.
Meeks completed passes to nine different receivers. Brailon Walker and Aiden Perry each caught four passes, Walker for 35 yards and Perry for 20. Aumaz Jackson had three catches for 52 yards and Hunter Schwettmann had three for 15. Russell had two catches for 25 yards, and Amere Davis had one for 36.
Jay Fry, Brayden Candie and Bishop all each had a catch.
As a defensive unit, Henderson had a difficult time getting pressure on Brown; the Lions had only three hurries and a sack.
The Lions are 0-2, having faced Carthage in the season opener and then on the road at Athens. Their non-district schedule doesn’t get any easier: they host Pittsburg this Friday night. They’ll open District 8-4A, Division I play on the road at Palestine on Sept. 18.