Huntingdon takes down Brevard in season opener

DUE TO CURRENT COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, ONLY HUNTINGDON STUDENTS ARE PERMITTED AT OUTDOOR ATHLETIC EVENTS

MONTGOMERY, Ala.  – The Huntingdon football team opened the season with a 26-18 win over Brevard College on Saturday.

The Hawks used two first-half touchdowns and four field goals from junior Cole Starr to earn the win.

Huntingdon scored on its first three possessions of the game to build an early 17-0 lead. Starr opened the scoring with a 26-yard field goal on the opening possession of the game before Landon Cotney connected with Luke McIntyre for a 1-yard touchdown on the second possession. A 1-yard touchdown run by Kahari McReynolds capped the third Huntingdon drive.

From there, the Hawks relied on Starr's kicking and defense. After Brevard cut Huntingdon's lead to 17-7, Starr connected on a 31-yard field goal to close the first-half scoring. Starr kicked a 34-yard field goal in the third quarter and gave the Hawks' a 26-7 lead with a 31-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter.

Brevard scored twice in the final three minutes of the game to pull within eight points and regained possession with 38 seconds remaining. The Hawks ended the threat as linebacker Casey Peppers forced a turnover on Brevard's final play.

Records: Huntingdon (1-0, 1-0 USA South); Brevard (0-1, 0-1 USA South)

Notable Performance: Kicker Cole Starr set one program record and tied another in Saturday's win.

Starr's four field goals are the most by Hawk in a single game. With two extra points to go with the four field goals, Starr accounted for 14 points on Saturday to tie Huntingdon's single-game record for most points scored by a kicker.  

Chase Young set the record of 14 points against North Carolina Wesleyan in 2018. Young (2018), Cody Lange (2005) and Steven Witt (2004) shared the previous record for most field goals in a game with three.

Stat Leaders

Offense

Passing: Landon Cotney: 25/31 for 165 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT

Receiving: Malachi Harvey: 8 receptions for 46 yards

Kelvin Bowser: 4 receptions for 54 yards

Luke McIntyre: 1-yard touchdown reception

Rushing: Landon Cotney: 13 rushes for 84 yards

Kahari McReynolds: 1-yard touchdown run

Kicking:  Cole Starr: 2/2 PAT; 4/4 field goals (26, 31, 34 and 31 yards)

Punting:  Zach Johnson: 6 punts, 200 yards, 33.3 average (long of 48 yards)

Defensive Leaders

Overall: Casey Peppers: 10 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries

Tackles: Casey Peppers (10), Karl Dorn (6), Isaiah Reed (5), Ty Brown (5)

Sacks: Tucker Spence (2), Casey Peppers (1), Cam Truitt (1)

QB Hurries: Jackson Dilworth (2)

Tackles For Loss: Casey Peppers (2), Tucker Spence (2)

Interceptions: Lexie Shaw (1)

Passes Broken Up: Fred Flavors (2)

Forced Fumbles: Casey Peppers (1), Tucker Spence (1)

Fumble Recoveries: Casey Peppers (2), Isaiah Reed (1), Cam Truitt (1)

Coming Up: Huntingdon plays at Maryville on Feb. 27 at noon (Central).