MOSS POINT — The Hancock Hawks’ offense proved to be too much for the Moss Point Tigers as Hancock cruised to a 52-27 victory on Friday.
Senior quarterback Dylan Moran led the way for the Hawks with 218 yards through the air and three touchdown passes. It marked the first-ever win for Hancock over the Tigers in the history of the two schools on the gridiron in three total meetings.
The Hawks got on the board first with senior running back Zachary Gullung punching it in from the 1 to go up 6-0 early. Moss Point was able to answer with a 6-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Chequin White for a 7-6 lead.
Hancock grabbed the lead back early in the second quarter with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Moran to tight end Braxton Johnson on fourth down, going up 14-7 after a two-point conversion. Wide receiver Kaleb Schafer scored on a 27-yard reverse to extend the Hawks’ lead to 20-7 on their next drive.
Linebacker Jeffery Hopgood snagged an interception, giving the Hawks the ball back with great field position after a 40-yard return. It took just three plays for Hancock to capitalize on the turnover with Gullung getting his second rushing TD of the half, bringing the Hawks’ lead to 26-7 with 4:43 left in the half.
Senior running back Taboris Charles gave the Tigers’ offense life, sprinting for a 61-yard touchdown to bring the score to 26-14.
Hancock added to its lead before the half was over. Moran connected with wide receiver Niel Aker on a spectacular 30-yard touchdown catch in double coverage. This gave the Hawks a 32-14 lead at halftime.
Hopgood, a two-way player, scored on an 11-yard touchdown run during the second half’s opening drive for a 39-14 lead.
Charles scored on a 53-yard run for Moss Point to make it 39-20 with a minute left in the third quarter.
Moran and Akers answered back with a highlight play of their own as Moran connected with Akers on a 55-yard touchdown pass for a 45-20 lead.
Backup running back Alex Vincent got in on the action, scoring from 19 yards out for a 52-20 lead.
With about seven minutes left in the game, Hancock coach Neil Lollar used the Hawks’ second unit.
Charles added to his Moss Point highlight reel of big runs with an 80-yard touchdown with three minutes left in the game.
The last time Hancock and Moss Point met was in 2006, when the Tigers came away with a 57-6 win. The prior year, in 2005, MPHS won 41-0. That marked theonly two previous meetings between the two teams on the gridiron before Friday night. Up next for Hancock ( 2-0) is its first home game. This will be against St. Martin on Friday. The Yellow Jackets fell to 0-2 with a home loss to Petal Friday night. Moss Point (0-2) will host St. Stanislaus. The Rocks moved to 2-0 with a big 51-21 win over rival Bay High in the annual “Battle for the Crab Trap” Friday night.
