Chelsea dominates Mobile Christian for home opening victory ...
Published 1:46 am Saturday, August 24, 2024
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The Chelsea Hornets proved the value of a determined run game and secured a 24-3 victory in their home game opener against the Mobile Christian Leopards on Friday, Aug. 23. (For the Reporter/Cari Dean)
By MACKENZEE SIMMS | Staff Writer
CHELSEA – The Chelsea Hornets proved the value of a determined run game and secured a 24-3 victory in their home opener against the Mobile Christian Leopards on Friday, Aug. 23.
“I felt good about what we did on the defensive side,” Chelsea head coach Todd Cassity said. “Offensively, we made a couple of big plays and I thought our running game was really good.”
Chelsea made their intentions to dominate the field known early during the very first possession of the game.
After a quick toss from quarterback Grant Propst, running back Chase Stracener appeared to be tangled in defenders around the Hornets 30-yard line, but he miraculously squeezed his way past the Leopards defense to make an incredible run down the sideline.
From there, Chelsea continued to make solid offensive carries to inch closer and closer to the end zone before Stracener brought the team over the finish line after a 6-yard run to score the first touchdown in the game.
For the remainder of the first quarter, Mobile Christian mustered a response to the Hornets’ early touchdown by driving the ball back down the field. Junior Carter Lewis completed a 49-yard field goal to put the Leopards on the scoreboard.
In the second quarter, the Hornets continued to show their determination as they powered through the Mobile Christian defensive line. Players like Morgan Barnes charged their way through their opponents while a 16-yard pass to wide receiver Aiden Hughes brought Chelsea to a 1st and Goal.
Receiver CJ Durbin continued the effort with a successful carry as he waltzed towards the end zone before encountering some last-second resistance from the defense, cutting him short at the 2-yard line.
Determined to finish what he started, Durbin carried the ball for the Hornets’ final push as he toppled over the goal line for Chelsea’s second touchdown of the night. After a successful kick, the Hornets sat at a 14-3 lead.
During the rest of the second quarter, the two teams traded fumbles with Chelsea ending up on top as defensive lineman Sam Trout recovered the ball as it careened across the ground.
In the resulting drive, quarterback Miller Bauman threw a gorgeous pass to Hughes who stood all alone on the field before sailing into the end zone with no resistance.
That touchdown sealed the halftime lead for the Hornets as they went into the locker room with a 21-3 lead.
The second half of the game saw a battle between Chelsea’s defense and the talent on Mobile Christian’s offense, including running back Anthonio Brown and quarterback Damien Gatson.
“I thought we tackled pretty well,” Cassity said. “(Mobile Christian’s) running back is really good. I thought we got him on the ground. The quarterback is a good player and we were able to put some pressure on him to make him make some bad throws.”
Throughout the second half, the Hornets defense was able to neutralize the Leopards. The lone score of the period came from a 40-yard field goal courtesy of Luke Miller in the fourth quarter to finish 24-3 victory.
While this victory may have made for a picture-perfect home opening victory, Cassity already has his sights set on the future.
According to Cassity, the team plans to take the rest season one game at a time. After this victory, the Hornets must shift focus to their next game against Wetumpka at home on Friday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m.
