Gore’s takeaways help Trojans blast Hurricanes

After a washout of his team’s intended season opener last week at Red Bank, nothing about this week at Soddy-Daisy was perfect, coach Justin Barnes said.

On Friday, his defense made it a perfect opening night for the Trojans as they manhandled East Hamilton in a 24-7 home victory.

Senior defensive back Spencer Gore returned an option pitch by the Hurricanes 9 yards for a touchdown, intercepted another pass in the end zone and joined his defensive teammates in recording four takeaways as Soddy-Daisy was never threatened.

“Not playing last week seemed to lead to nothing being perfect at school this week,” said Barnes, “but the defense got us going and we played well.”

The Trojans led 24-0 before East Hamilton scored with 1:43 left. The Hurricanes (1-1) did not pick up a first down until late in the second quarter — they had only three for the game — and were held to 39 yards of offense in the first half.

“Our defense played pretty good,” East Hamilton coach Ted Gatewood said. “I didn’t see much good on offense, but the defense played well. We’ve got to get the offense fixed quick.”

Soddy-Daisy made it 6-0 with 32 seconds remaining in the first quarter when quarterback Gavin Chambers hit Landen Reece with a 15-yard pass, and Cooper Hamilton kicked the extra point. The short drive was set up by a Hayden Mayor fumble recovery at the East Hamilton 14.

On East Hamilton’s second possession of the second half, Gore intercepted a pitch by quarterback Kyler Johnson and took it to the end zone. Hamilton’s extra point made it 14-0 with 7:18 left in the third quarter. After an East Hamilton punt, the Trojans drove from their own 29 to the Hurricanes’ 8 before Hamilton kicked a 23-yard field goal with 2:31 left in the quarter.

Soddy-Daisy’s best drive followed Gore’s interception of a Johnson pass in the end zone. The Trojans went 80 yards in seven plays and scored when Chambers hit Kesean Eubanks on a 19-yard touchdown with 8:36 left in the game.

“We came out a little flat but got it going in the second quarter,” Gore said.