Sometimes it takes all four quarters to win a football game. With blowout wins each of the past two weeks, 63-0 v. Chisholm and 61-7 v. Blackwell, the Hennessey Eagles had not had much too worry about in the second halves of late. That was not the case in Friday night’s Class 2A District 1 matchup with the Alva Goldbugs. The golden tortoise beetles from Woods County came into the clash clinging to their playoff lives, already with two district losses, to Newkirk and Millwood, with Oklahoma Christian and Perry ahead to close out the regular season schedule, their season was on the line.
Hennessey’s was too. Though comfortable at 5-2, 3-1 in District, the Eagles’ season could have come crashing down with a loss Friday night and a potential three game slide to end the season, with Millwood and Newkirk yet to play.
That was not the case as the Hennessey Eagles coasted to 22-8 halftime lead, narrowed to 28-26 by the end of the 3rd quarter, then held on to a 50-40 win on the back of Freshman QB Titan Hix and the bend-but-don’t-break Eagle Defense.
Titan Hix. He’s a freshman. Most freshmen don’t get to play on Friday nights. Few get to start. Even fewer (actually NONE) break records. This freshman is different. Coming into Friday’s game, Hix was 2 Touchdown Passes shy of tying the Single Season Record at HHS. He has the 3rd and 4th Most Passing Yards in a Single Game at HHS. In only seven games played he had the 5th Most Passing Yards in a Single Season in HHS history. Freshman. All those numbers and placements stayed the same as Titan went 16 for 34 for (only) 190 Yards and 0 TDs Passing – the first time in his eight-game career he did not throw a touchdown pass. He did not need to. Through the game plan and play calling of Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Paul Hix (his father), the Eagles (and Titan) attacked the ‘bugs on the ground, amassing 318 Rushing Yards as a team on the night.
Titan ran the ball 35 times for 232 Yards and 7 Touchdowns. He’s a freshman. Those 7 Rushing Touchdowns now stand as the Most in HHS history in a Single Game, surpassing Tabor John’s 6 against Luther in the 2014 Playoffs. Only five other players in Hennessey history have run for more than 230 Yards in a Single Game: Augie McCulley (9 times), Tabor Johns (5), Dillon Joyce (3), Levi Hill (2), and Treyson Dunigan (1). Titan is a FRESHMAN.
Adding to the ground attack was Sebastian Gonzalez with 8 Carries for 48 Yards, Jessin Hardin 2 Carries for 22, and Zack Tillman adding 3 Rushes for 16 Yards.
The air attack, though limited, was not silent, with Seth Simunek pulling down 6 Catches for 98 Yards, Weston Smith with 6 Catches as well for 42 Yards, Kevin Trillo 3 for 40, and Sebas’ getting 1 grab for 10 Yards.
The Eagles’ Defense was led by Will Linebacker (Fr) Mauricio Valles’ 8 Tackles and 2 Assists, and Sam Linebacker (So) Jessin Hardin’s 7 Tackles and 2 Assists with 2 Quarterback Sacks. (Jr) Rush End Cam Griffin added 7 Total Tackles and fellow (Jr) Zack Tillman posted 6 Tackles with 2 QB Sacks from his DT position. Sebastian Gonzalez leveled 7 “hammers” and several more QB pressures.
The Hennessey Eagles, now at 6-2 Overall, 4-1 in District 2A-1, are guaranteed their first winning record since 2015 (7-5), and are riding a 4-game win streak for the first time since 2017, having won 3 straight versus the Alva Goldbugs (now 3-5 OA, 2-3 District).
The District’s #1 team Millwood Falcons (7-1, 5-0), Ranked #4 in 2A by MaxPreps, come to Hennessey this next Friday night. This will be the first time the Falcons and Eagles have played since Hennessey defeated Millwood in both the 2010 and 2011 Semifinals en route to our 2 State Championships.
Senior Night 2022 prior to the game, with a 7:00 pm Kickoff for what could be the Class 2A District 1 Championship, Friday night, October 28, at Eagle Stadium. –EAGLEVOICE. Photos by Kenda Copland and Jack Quirk
