Hornets Clip Eagles, Capture Share of SEC Red Championship

“Get Better Every Week” has been the mantra of the Saline High School varsity football team each week.

Eight weeks into the season, the Hornets looked scary-good as they picked apart the Skyline Eagles 53-13 to clinch a share of the SEC Red Championship.

Saline (7-1 overall and 5-1 in the SEC) finished tied with Pioneer atop the SEC Red. Monroe, fell to Bedford, 27-13) to finish 4-2 in the SEC.

From the opening kickoff, the Hornets looked determined to steamroll the Eagles. Gage Hammond (5 catches, 131 yards, 1 TD0 returned the kickoff to the Skyline 49. On first down, he caught a short pass from Tyler Palka (17-for-24, 258 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs) and ran it to the Skyline 12. After a nine-yard rush by Kevin Gross, Griffin Wooley punched it in from three yards out. Hammond’s kick made it 7-0.

Saline’s next drive ended with an interception at the Skyline two. Three plays later, Skyline QB Askaree Crawford and Percell Franklin connected for a 98-yard touchdown pass along the left sideline.

Another great kickoff return by Hammond, this time to the Skyline 26, gave the Hornets great possession to strike again. A 20-yard keeper by Palka gave Saline a first down at the Skyline 7. Two plays later, Palka ran it in from the five. Hammond’s kick made it 14-7.

The Hornets dominated the remainder of the game.  Skyline’s next possession was stopped in three plays as Alex Kendig and Casey Schukow sacked Crawford on 3rd-and-2. Saline took over at its own 46. Nine play and 2:06 later, Gross rushed in for a touchdown. Hammond’s kick made it 21-7.

Skyline’s next drive was disastrous. On third-and-long Nick Sekerak (six tackles, 2 sacks, one tackle for a loss) dropped Crawford for a big loss. On fourth down, the snap went over the punter’s head and Nader El-Awar recovered at the Skyline 18. Two plays later Gross rushed in from one yard out. Palka rushed in to convert the two-point play. Saline led 29-7.

It took Saline only a minute to score again. Travis Brown recovered a Skyline fumble and the Hornets took over at the Skyline 37. Palka and Gross connected for a 32-yard passing play. On the next play, Palka connected with Gross again for a touchdown. Saline led 36-7.

Skyline closed the gap with its best drive of the game, moving 76 yards in 11 plays. On the 11th play, Crawford rushed in from five yards out.  Saline took a 36-13 lead into halftime.

The bad news for Skyline was that Saline is a second half team. Skyline’s first series of the half ended after three plays when Brandon Gordon picked off a pass at the Skyline 37. Saline settled for a field goal to make it 39-13. Skyline’s next drive went two plays before Grant Ellis picked off a pass. Two plays later, Palka found Caleb Luckett over the middle for a 33-yard touchdown pass. Saline led 46-13.

Saline’s final score was set up after another strong defensive stand during which Caleb Ashby (5 tackles, one forced fumble, one sack) had one tackle for a loss and a sack. Palka and Hammond linked for a 29-yard touchdown pass and Saline led 52-13.

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