CORNELIUS, N.C. — A battle between two top-10 teams got lopsided on Friday, not because of long touchdown runs, electric plays in the passing game, or video game offensive numbers, but because of fundamental things like snapping, kicking, and blocking.

There wasn’t much No. 5 Hough did wrong in any department as the Huskies crushed No. 6 Mallard Creek 33-0 to take sole possession of first place in the Queen City Athletic Conference.

Hough (7-1, 5-0) jumped out to a 19-0 at half thanks in large part to its special teams. The Huskies had three punts in the first half, and Candler Happe averaged 61.3 yards on them.

“When you see us play, you can tell we work on special teams,” Hough coach DeShawn Baker said. “And again, our whole offensive line… for them to come out and dominate the way they did after the first quarter was just great.”

Twice, he pinned Mallard Creek (6-2, 4-1) inside its own 10. On one of those drives, a fumble by the Mavericks didn’t come back to bite immediately as the Mallard Creek forced a turnover on downs.

Mallard Creek’s defense stood tall on another Hough drive that started at the 3 due to a bad snap on a punt. Hough was held to a 22-yard field goal, but that woke up the Huskies offense, which scored touchdowns on its next two drives for a 17-0 lead.

Just before halftime, a second bad snap on a Mallard Creek punt went out of the end zone for a safety with 7.8 seconds in the second quarter.

Two second-half touchdowns, a 1-yard run by quarterback Trey Blakeney (he had a 2-yard touchdown run in the first half) and a 6-yard run by Jamison Funderburk (who likewise had a 4-yard touchdown run in the first half), put the game on ice for the Huskies.

Hough didn’t need to be flashy on offense against a strong Mallard Creek defense. The Huskies spread around the workload.

Blakeney was efficient, completing 12 of 19 passes for 121 yards while running eight times for 27 yards and two scores. Funderburk had nine carries for 37 yards and Jycen Anciso moved the sticks a number of times (13 carries for 61 yards, 3 receptions for 37 yards). Tyran Evans had two of the game’s longest completions, hauling in three passes for 70 yards.

Hough’s defense held Mallard Creek to 101 total yards: 18 yards passing and 83 yards rushing.

“It was a chance for us to go out there and show everyone what we can do,” defensive end Cameron Cyr said.

SCORING PLAYS

1Q
HOU — Candler Happe 22-yard FG (3-0, 1:03)
2Q
HOU — Trey Blakeney 2-yard run, XP good (10-0, 8:40)
HOU — Jamison Funderburk 4-yard run, XP good (17-0, 4:52)
HOU — safety (19-0, 7.8)
3Q
HOU — Trey Blakeney 1-yard run, XP good (26-0, 1:26)
4Q
HOU — Jamison Funderburk 6-yard run, XP good (33-0, 7:19)

FINAL STATS

Passing: Hough — Trey Blakeney (12-of-19 passing, 121 yards); Ethan Royal (2-of-4, 21 yards). Mallard Creek — Perry Justice (4-of-12 passing, 18 yards); Evan Rambert (0-of-2 passing, 0 yards).
Rushing: Hough — Jycen Anciso (13 carries, 61 yards); Jamison Funderburk (9 carries, 37 yards, 2 TDs); Trey Blakeney (8 carries, 27 yards, 2 TDs); Jamarion Morrison (2 carries, -1 yards); Sean Brady (2 carries, 2 yards); Ethan Royal (1 carry, -3 yards); Kynis Tinnin (1 carry, 8 yards); Joey Lembo (1 carry, 5 yards). Mallard Creek — Christian Dixon (1 carry, 62 yards); Perry Justice (11 carries, 17 yards); Curtis Clark (6 carries, 1 yard); Samaritan Page (4 carries, -5 yards); Mason Kelly (1 carry, -7 yards); Caleb Knight (7 carries, 36 yards); Ashton Blevins (1 carry, -18 yard).
Receiving: Hough — Tyran Evans (3 receptions, 70); Jycen Anciso (3 receptions, 37 yards); Ashawd Wynn (2 receptions, 17 yards); Jamison Funderburk (2 receptions, 10 yards), Sean Brady (3 receptions, 4 yards); Kaden Hornesby (1 reception, 4 yards). Mallard Creek — Khalil Price (1 reception, 19 yards), Elijah Thompson (1 reception, 4 yards), Samaritan Page (1 reception, -4 yards); Mason Kelly (1 receptoin, -1 yards).

Source: highschoolot.com