Huntingdon celebrates Homecoming with football’s 100th win

MONTGOMERY, Ala.  – The Huntingdon football team scored 35 points in the first 13 minutes of the game and celebrated Homecoming with a 45-0 win over Greensboro College on Saturday.

The win was the 100^th in the history of the Huntingdon football program. In their 16^th season of competition, the Hawks have an all-time record of 100-54. Head coach Mike Turk, who took over the program after its first season in 2003, has guided Huntingdon to a 100-47 record.

In addition to Turk, two other coaches have been a part of all 100 wins in program history. Defensive coordinator Steven Hicks and former offensive line coach Charlie Goodyear, who now serves as Director of Strength and Conditioning, were a part of Turk's first coaching staff.

"Reaching 100 wins is a milestone. It took us a little longer to get here than we wanted, but we made it," Turk said. "It makes it that much more special that Coach Hicks and Coach Goodyear have been here for all of those wins. Not only that, but every guy who has ever played here and every guy who has ever coached here has had a hand in us achieving this.

"A lot of those guys were here today for Homecoming and were able to celebrate with us. In the long run, that's really what it's all about. Seeing those guys and renewing those relationships. I'm really thankful for having been here as long as we have and to watch that transpire."

Records: Huntingdon (2-5, 2-3 USA South); Greensboro (1-7, 0-5 USA South)

The Turning Point: Huntingdon put Greensboro away quickly, scoring three offensive touchdowns and two defensive touchdowns in the first quarter.

On Huntingdon's first possession of the game, Eric Thomas capped a three-play, 54-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. On Greensboro's ensuing possession, defensive back Cobi Jones picked off a pass near midfield and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead with 11:55 to play in the first quarter.

Kobe Smith made it a 21-0 game with a 43-yard touchdown run on the Hawks' second possession of the game and Dontavion Cunningham capped Huntingdon's third possession with a 12-yard touchdown run.

Defensive back Ahmaud Taylor closed the first quarter scoring, recovering a fumble forced by Trey Hayes and returning it 47 yards for a touchdown with 2:05 left in the first quarter.

The Hawks added a 27-yard field goal by Chase Young in the second quarter and a 2-yard touchdown run by Thomas on the first possession of the third quarter.

Notable

Hayes becomes Hawks' all-time leading tackler: Senior linebacker Trey Hayes became Huntingdon's career leader in tackles on Saturday. On the first play from scrimmage, Hayes recorded his 290^th career tackle to break the record held by former linebacker and Huntingdon Hall of Fame member Granger Shook (2005-2008).

Playing for less than three quarters on Saturday before the backups finished the game, Hayes finished the game with five tackles and now has 294 tackles for his career.

"Trey passed a pretty good one today in Granger Shook. Granger held that record for a long time," Turk said. "I'm proud of Trey. He has been solid as a rock and has been a big part of what we have been able to do defensively for the past four seasons. It's going to be tough to watch him graduate and move on next year, but I'm thankful we have had him as part of this program."

Defensive Presence: The Huntingdon defense forced five turnovers on Saturday and recorded the seventh shutout in program history. The Hawks held the Pride to 80 yards passing and 146 yards of total offense. The passing yards are the fifth fewest ever allowed by the Hawks and the total offensive yards are the sixth fewest.

Jones and Taylor join a select group: Defensive backs Cobi Jones and Ahmaud Taylor joined a select group of Huntingdon defenders on Saturday. Jones' 45-yard interception return for a touchdown and Taylor's 47-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown were just the 17^th and 18^th defensive touchdowns scored in Huntingdon history.

Jones' touchdown was just the 12^th interception return for a score in Huntingdon history and Taylor's touchdown was just the sixth fumble return for a touchdown in Hawks' history.

Saturday was just the third time Huntingdon has returned an interception for a touchdown and a fumble for a touchdown in the same game. Hodge Patterson (32-yard interception) and Larry Hudson (100-yard fumble recovery) were the first Hawks to do so in a 2006 game against Sewanee. Anthony White (39-yard fumble recovery) and Wykein Dean (34-yard interception) came through with defensive scores against Ave Maria in 2012.

Although he didn't score on Saturday, senior defensive back Leonard Ward IV also had a long interception return for the Hawks, picking off a pass at the Huntingdon 9-yard line and returning it 70 yards before being tackled.

Stat Leaders

Offense

Passing: Michael Lambert: 13/15 for 145 yards

Receiving: Hunter Huckbay: 4 receptions for 39 yards

Garrett Headley: 2 receptions for 49 yards

Rushing: Dontavion Cunningham: 15 rushes for 109 yards, 1 TD

Eric Thomas: 11 rushes for 97 yards, 2 TDs

Kobe Smith: 9 rushes for 76 yards, 1 TD

Kicking:  Chase Young: 6/6 PAT; 1/1  field goals (connected on a 27-yard FG)

Defense

Tackles: Trey Hayes (5), Jarrett White (5), Ahmaud Taylor (5), Karl Dorn (5)

Sacks: Dylan Powell (1)

Forced Fumbles: Trey Hayes (1), Peyton DeFleron (1)

Recovered Fumbles: Ahmaud Taylor (1 – 47-yard TD return), Gavin Walker (1)

Interceptions: Cobi Jones (1 – 45-yard TD return), Leonard Ward IV (1), Ahmaud Taylor (1)

Coming Up: Huntingdon plays at North Carolina Wesleyan on Nov. 3 at noon (Central).