Newark Catholic routs Nelsonville-York in 45-0 pounding
By: John Curtsinger, Parker Kopronica
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NEWARK, Ohio (WOUB) — Newark Catholic came out of the gate firing in a 45-0 victory friday night, as the Greenwave rolled over Nelsonville-York on offense and also shut down the Buckeyes on defense.
After a short kickoff from the Buckeyes to start the game, the Greenwave got right to work on the ground behind all-state runner Mason Hackett. The runningstud back carried the team down the field, wearing out the defense, and ultimately finished the drive off by taking a wildcat snap into the endzone.
Attempting to build on a solid performance against Trimble last week, junior QB Makhi Williams had a big challenge this week against an elite Newark Catholic defense. He started his first drive off well, taking a scramble drill 12 yards for a first-down, but the Buckeyes were unable to build on that momentum. Throughout the Greenwave made the young QB’s life difficult with constant pressure, and on this drive ultimately forcing a punt.
Even though Nelsonville-York was able to hold Newark Catholic to a punt, Hackett showcased his versatility with a beautiful coffin-corner punt. The Buckeyes could not overcome the poor field position, ultimately punting the ball away from the back of their endzone.
The Greenwave took that punt back to the Buckeyes 12-yard line. On Miller Hutchinson’s first pass attempt, the first-year starter showed off his timing, hitting senior receiver Grant Moore on a quick out down to the 2-yard line. From there, Mason Hackett did the rest, bulldozing past the goal line for his second score of the night, giving Newark Catholic a 14-0 lead.
After another Buckeyes punt, Hutchinson wasted no time adding to the lead. The QB hit receiver Grant Moore again, this time for a 45-yard touchdown down the sideline, extending the lead to 21-0 to end the 1st quarter.
Newark Catholic quickly got the ball back again, and on the first play from scrimmage, the Hutchinson hit Moore again. This time the receiver did the work, taking a screen-pass for a massive 55-yard touchdown and 28-0 lead. The chemistry between the two was obvious all night, and something we hope to see for the rest of the year.
The Greenwave’s defense continued to smother Williams and the Buckeyes, forcing another punt and another opportunity for the Newark Catholic’s offense. After a solid drive with a mix of quick passes and runs, it was Hackett who ended it with another vicious touchdown run. That score was his third of the night and gave the Greenwave a 35-0 lead heading into the half.
While Nelsonville-York did show some signs of life for the remainder of the contest, the Greenwave’s defense consistently halted the momentum before the Buckeyes could take advantage of it.
In the second half, Newark Catholic showcased their abundance of talent on defense. While the starters were out of the game, the underclassman shined, forcing two fumbles en route to a 45-0 victory.
For the Greenwave, all-state senior Mason Hackett ended his night with 113 rushing yards and three touchdowns on only 12 attempts. First-year starter Miller Hutchinson showcased an abundance of promise, going 9-16 passing with 179 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Grant Moore also played brilliantly, turning his three receptions into 110 yards with two touchdowns.