Danville dominates Hatton

By By Paul Wilson, For the Hartselle Enquirer
DANVILLE - The Danville Hawks got the 2009 football season off to a great start as they dominated the visiting Hatton Hornets on their way to a 35-0 win last Friday night at Smith-Owens Stadium.
Danville wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard. Hawk junior Clint McAbee fielded the opening kickoff and raced, untouched, 84 yards for a touchdown. Mario Cortez added the first of five extra points to give the Hawks a 7-0 lead 12 seconds into the game.
The rest of the quarter was played almost entirely on Hatton’s side of the field, but the Hawks could not add to their lead. Twice Danville got inside the Hatton 10 yard line but each time they turned the ball over on downs.
The Hawks’ offense scored twice, while the defense held Hatton to just 49 yards total offense. Sophomore QB Caleb Hill had a hand in each touchdown. His 1-yard run gave Danville a 14-0 lead midway through the period. Hill’s run ended a 15-play, 62-yard drive. Key plays in the drive included a 5-yard run by senior WR Tyler Beck on 4th-and-5 and a 9-yard pass on 4th-and-7 from Hill to Jesse Posey.
A 6-yard punt by Hatton set up Danville’s next score. This time the Hawks decided to strike quickly, going 52 yards in just three plays with the touchdown coming on a 27-yard Hill to McAbee throw and catch. Cortez’s kick was good and Danville took a 21-0 lead into halftime.
The Hornets ended the game with 135 yards of total offense.
Offensively, the Hawks added a touchdown in each of the final two periods of play. Senior RB Levi George scored on a 5-yard run in the third period and Hill threw a 16-yard TD pass to sophomore Evan Cleghorn early in the fourth for Danville’s final points of the night.
For the night, Danville had 265 yards of total offense (130 rushing and 135 passing).
George led all rushers with 99 yards on 20 carries. McAbee had three catches for 65 yards.