Junior running backs Tyler Emans and Cooper Richards both turned in 100-yard rushing performances and combined for five touchdowns as the Harmony Longhorns (3-1) ran past the Gateway Panthers (1-3), 49-6 Friday night.
The game was never in doubt as the Longhorns took the opening kickoff and scored in three plays.
“I thought we did a pretty good job accomplishing what we wanted to,” Harmony Head Coach Don Simon said. “(Quarterback) Ayden Parks did a great job of understanding what the defense was doing and checking into the right plays. Our running backs ran hard and continued to move forward after contact.”
Parks rushed for one score and completed both his passes for a second touchdown, but earned praise from Simon for his decision making. “He really has developed a good feel for both our offense and reacting to what he sees on defense.”
After Emans gained 10 yards on two carries to start the game, Richards took an inside handoff, broke through the line and ran untouched for a 51-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead. He'd make it a 14-0 lead on the Longhorns next possession. He would cap off an eight-play, 78-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown run. Richards would carry four times in the drive for 48 yards on his way to 129 yards and 3 TDs on just 10 carries.
Emans was just as effective. He would gain 146 yards on 14 carries, with five runs of 10 or more yards – including a scoring run of 47 yards that gave Harmony a 35-6 lead. It was a dominating night for the Harmony offense; the Longhorns gained 323 yards on just 30 offensive plays.
While the Harmony offense was clicking, its defense was doing a solid job. Other than giving up an 80-yard drive that ended with a 10-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Edward Dyer to wide receiver Delvin Pryor on a fourth-and-goal play to open the second half, Harmony defense limited the Panthers to just 68 net offensive yards on their other eight offensive possessions, and had three interceptions.
“There’s not a whole lot to say about this game, we simply got beat up front on both sides of the ball. Their offensive line opened up holes and once their running backs get past the line, they are very difficult to bring down,” Gateway Head Coach Marlin Roberts said. “We put together that one good drive, but that was about it. It seems like the rest of the game we would follow a positive play with one or two negative ones.”
The win sets up next week’s all-important District 7A-7 opener where the Longhorns will host Viera (3-1). The Hawks have made the state playoffs every year since 2013. “Probably one of the most important games we have played in a couple of years,” Simon said. “The winner will most likely control their own destiny in the district.”
Gateway has a tough district game on the road against undefeated Auburndale (4-0).
