Gill, Hornets go fourth and prosper

With the chance at a potential opening-week road win slipping away, Cincere Gill pushed Mansfield across the finish line.

Gill scored a pair of touchdowns in the final seven minutes last night to lead the Hornets to a 21-7 win over BC High at James Cotter Field.

“After (BC High) tied the score, just a great response by our guys in the fourth quarter on the road,” said Mansfield coach Mike Redding. “Cincere is a young player, but gives us that element of speed off the edge and big-play capability.”

Trailing 7-0 to begin the fourth quarter, the Eagles tied it when Jacob Perez took the handoff and bounced outside for a 12yard touchdown.

Mansfield (1-0) answered right away courtesy of some trickery. On fourth-and-12 at the BC High 41-yard line, Aidan Sacco turned a poor snap on a punt attempt into a 17-yard gain.

Two plays later, Gill took the inside handoff, split the tackles and took off for a 21-yard touchdown to give the Hornets a 14-7 lead with seven minutes to play.

BC High drove to the Mansfield 25-yard line, but on fourth-and-1, linebacker Vinnie Holmes sacked Joe Brink to force a turnover on downs.

The Hornets’ ground game then put the game on ice. Nick Marciano (122 total yards, TD) took a handoff 46 yards down the left sideline to get Mansfield inside the BC High 15-yard line. Three plays later, Gill scored his second touchdown of the quarter from 4 yards out to put Mansfield up 21-7.

“This is a huge win for us,” said Gill. “With Everett coming up next we needed this one, and we got it.”

The Hornets missed a golden opportunity late in the first quarter as Holmes’ 54-yard carry brought Mansfield inside the BC High 10. After the Hornets stalled on three straight plays, a 27-yard field goal attempt was wide right, keeping the game scoreless.

Mansfield cashed in later in the half as Holmes turned a screen pass into a 24-yard pickup down to the Eagles’ 15. Three plays later, Damani Scott rolled right and hit a wide-open Marciano on the run for an 11-yard touchdown to give the Hornets a 7-0 lead at the intermission.