Hough, defense guide Panthers to 5th in row
Annapolis running back Cameron Hough must really understand the importance of starting fast.
Hough scored on his first carry of each half and finished with 202 yards on 18 carries and four touchdowns to lead No. 7 Annapolis to a 46-22 victory over No. 15 Arundel on Friday. Hough also converted three 2-point conversions for the Panthers, who defeated the Wildcats for the second straight year.
Hough got the Panthers’ big night started in a hurry when he rumbled 65 yards on the game’s first play from scrimmage. He added the 2-point conversion to give Annapolis a quick 8-0 lead. He added a 25-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and two more 2-point conversions to help the Panthers take a 32-14 lead at the half.
After Trey Gross’ interception on Arundel’s first possession of the second half, Hough scored from 9 yards out to push the Panthers’ lead to 38-12.
“Our coordinator [Mike Melton] teaches us that tempo is what we need to keep us in the game,” Hough said. “In order for us to keep the defense on their heels, it’s great that we keep that tempo up. We run our plays just like we execute them in practice, so the way we play in the game is the way we practice.”
Omar’od White scored on a 24-yard run in the first half for Annapolis, which had 251 yards on 24 carries before halftime. Justin Williams, who rushed for 78 yards in the half, also hit Gross for a 10-yard touchdown on fourth down for the Panthers, who went 4-for-4 on their 2-point conversion attempts in the first half and finished 5-for-6 for the game.
Led by Hough’s performance, the Panthers finished with 410 yards on 50 carries. Williams added 95 yards on 12 carries.
“That guy is like a man-child,” said Arundel coach Chuck Markiewicz, speaking of Hough. “He could start on the offensive line for us, and he’s as fast as anyone on our team.”
The Annapolis defense also got into the act. The Panthers, whogave up 62 points in their first four wins, intercepted Wildcats quarterback Ryan Sedgwick four times. They also had five sacks, including two apiece by Demorie Carey and T’Nae’Jah Watts and another from Chris Johnson.
Kevin Flournoy, Gross, Nyonjae Spriggs and Carey had the interceptions for the Annapolis defense, which yielded just eight points. The Wildcats scored their other points on a fumble recovery in the end zone and an interception return for a touchdown.
After the game, Panthers coach Nick Good-Malloy sang the praises of his defensive coaching staff.
“They’re awesome,” Good-Malloy said. “The assistant coaches do a great job.”