Spring Hill Competes in Loss to CPA

Williamson County FootballBy: Zachary Harmuth

The Spring Hill Raiders spent most of the first quarter of Friday nights game winning against the 1st ranked CPA Lions.

They drew first blood, as Rambo would say, and came out swinging with a 10 play, 68 yard drive, capped by a Tylin Oden touchdown run, that took up almost six minutes.

But then the kings of the jungle, led by Lions Zack Weatherly and Jay Hockaday, took over and scored the game’s next (and last) 48 points.

These district opponents played more closely than their records suggested. The Raiders (1-6, 0-3 in District 12) moved the ball well and almost kept up with the Lions (7-0, 3-0 in District 12) through the first half

After the Raiders scored first, the Lions responded with two long drives. Zack Weatherly found Andrew Manuel for a 5 yard touchdown to tie the game at 7, capping a 4 play 78 yard drive. Then, after a Raider drive sputtered into a punt, Lion Jay Hockaday ran 5 yards for a touchdown to cap a 9 play 79 yard drive that ended with 11 minutes left in the 2nd quarter.

Down 14-7 the Raiders then marched 64 yards, and took up more than 7 minutes, until disaster struck as Liion John Orr recovered a Raider fumble to end the drive and truly deflate Spring Hill.

From there, the twin quarterbacks of CPA took over. Andrew Manuel caught another score, this one came from Hockaday, who threw 2 of 4 for 14 yards and a touchdown on the day and also ran for one. Weatherly finished with a perfect 9 of 9 for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Oden, for the Raiders, on the other hand threw 2 of 5 for 13 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception. In fact the Lions outpassed the Raiders by more than 100 yards (156 to 25).

But rushing did the dirty work for the Lions in this win, despite moderate Raider success. CPA outrushed Spring Hill 305 yards to 205. Chance Meier led the Lions with 126 yards on 6 carries. Max Pressley added 95 yards and a score on 5 carries.

Noah Williams led the Raiders with 88 yards on 12 carries. Oden pitched in with 76 yards and a score on 16 carries.