53 weeks ago, the Hennessey Eagles suffered their most devastating loss of the 2021 Football Season. That 21-2 defeat to an inferior Maroon squad essentially kept the Eagles out of the postseason, missing the playoffs due to a tie-breaker deficit with Perry. Fast-forward 1 year and we found these Eagles with one thing in mind: retribution.
Retribution is what they got, as this group of Eagles left no doubt as to who the best team was this year, both on the field and on the scoreboard, as Hennessey humbled Blackwell 61-7 moving the Eagles into 3rd place in District 2A-1 with three weeks to play.
Behind a swarming defense and a big-play offensive attack, the Hennessey Eagles have reeled off 3 district wins in a row for the first time since 2017, pounding Perry, Chisholm, and now Blackwell by a combined score of 145-21, averaging 40 points per game in district play, allowing only 14 per game.
Thursday night in Blackwell the Eagles had 11 offensive possessions, scoring 9 touchdowns, going a perfect 5 for 5 on their 2nd half possessions. Hennessey turned the ball over on downs once, and punted once, otherwise every possession ended in the end zone, with the Eagles scoring 9 TDs for the second week in a row.
The Maroons (1-6, 0-4) had 11 offensive possessions as well, yet the Eagles D turned them over on downs 3 times, forced 4 punts, and 2 fumbles. Blackwell had the ball when both the first half and the game ended, scoring their one touchdown w/ 9 seconds remaining in the contest, prior to a successful onside kick before the last play of the game.
Once again Freshman Titan Hix shined in his first Varsity campaign as the Eagles QB, passing for 350 Yards, going 14 for 23 with 0 interceptions and 5 Touchdowns thrown. Those TD passes came from 48, 74, 25, 55, and 54 yards. It’s the second time this season Hix has thrown for 5 TDs in a game (Week 0 v. Mt. St. Mary). No Eagle has ever thrown 6 Touchdowns in a Single Game – yet. Hix was also the game’s leading rusher with 11 Carries for 111 Yards and 3 Touchdowns on the ground. The frosh added a 2-point conversion run in the 2nd quarter as well.
The Eagles had two receivers with over 100 yards in the game. This feat has happened only one other time in HHS history, when Kaden Hawk and Brysn Hunt went 224 and 222 versus Alva in 2019. Weston Smith had 8 Catches for 178 Yards and 2 Touchdowns. Those 178 yards surpassed his personal best of 168 v. Kellyville in the 2020 playoffs. With 1,264 Yards and 12 TDs Receiving on his career, Weston, who is only a Junior, now moves into 7th place all-time in both categories in HHS history.
The other Eagle that broke the century mark in yards was Kevin Trillo. The Sophomore had 2 Catches for 103 Yards and 2 Touchdowns, bringing his season total to 277 yards with 5 TDs.
Seth Simunek had 3 grabs for 64 Yards, with a 25-yard TD catch in the 3rd quarter that was the 2nd of two touchdowns in an 11 second span to begin the second half. Simunek is now 1 touchdown reception shy of tying Barry Crosswhite (19) for 2nd all-time at HHS.
The offensive ground game totaled 156 yards behind Hix, Sebastian Gonzalez’ 30, Zack Tillman’s 2 Carries for 11, and Freshman Abe Prieto getting his first Varsity Touchdown behind 4 attempts.
The Eagles Defense was led by Brandon Valles’ 8 Tackles and 1 Fumble Recovery. Mauricio Valles had 5 Tackles with 3 Assists, and Seth Simunek added 6 Tackles, 1 Assist, and 1 Pass Break-up to lead the defensive charge.
After a 2-game road trip, the Eagles (5-2 Overall, 3-1 District) return home this coming Friday, October 21st, to host the Alva Goldbugs (3-4, 2-2). Kickoff at Eagles Stadium on Friday night is 7:00 pm.
