Mills makes first start for CMS
FOUNTAIN LAKE — Genoa Central flexed its offensive strength against Cutter Morning Star Friday night.
Waiting for the finishing touches on stadium renovations, the Eagles hosted Genoa Central in a home game on paper at Fountain Lake’s Allen Tillery Field.
Genoa Central’s Harrison Wilson busted through the line for a 50-yard touchdown to set the 48-16 final with 1:34 left to go in the game.
“It felt good,” Genoa Central head coach Chris Hudson said. “All week long we talked about how we had to match their physicality. They are big. They are rangy, and they are long. Their defensive line caused us problems. They did a good job getting penetration.”
Cutter Morning Star (0-2) dropped its first game to Marshall, and Genoa Central (3-0) is riding its best start in program history.
“We shot ourselves in the foot coming out and honestly we got to do a lot of work on defense,” Cutter Morning Star head coach Nick Finley said. “It is all fixable. That is the great thing. The kids fought hard all game.”
Cutter Morning Star’s offensive line only allowed one sack on the night.
“I am proud of our kids, and I am proud of our community for coming up and helping,” Finley said. “We just must make sure we do the little things.”
Genoa Central marched it down the field for an opening-drive touchdown by senior running back Connor Reed on a jet sweep from the 2-yard line with 6:18 left in the first quarter. The two-point conversion was good by Wilson making the score 8-0 in favor of Genoa Central.
“Hats off to them,” Hudson said. “They had me worried all the way until the clock ran out.”
Reed intercepted Eagle quarterback Peyton Mills’ pass at the Genoa Central 40-yard line and returned it all the way down to the Cutter Morning Star 35.
Reed then caught a 15-yard wide-open touchdown pass on a post route to give Genoa Central a 16-0 lead.
Genoa Central’s Garrett Hardin ended his night with 147 passing yards, accounting for 3 passing touchdowns.
A Mills pass went 80 yards to senior wide receiver Clayton Weldon all the way down to the 2-yard line.
With 5:33 left to go in the second quarter Mills called his own number from the 1-yard line and punched it in for a touchdown. The ensuing twopoint conversion was good on a 2-yard pass to Weldon. The Eagles trailed 16-8.
“We kept our heads up and we kept fighting,” Finley said. “I would be lying if I said we did not have work to do but at the same time I thought offensively Peyton came in, did what he was supposed to do. He forced some things but that is just him trying to make a big play. I do not fault him for that.”
Weldon had a career night for the Eagles amassing eight tackles, two sacks and 115 receiving yards.
“I thought we blocked well,” Finley said. “We kept some protection. A couple of times it kind of folded on us but Mills was real good at getting outside and finding an open man. Weldon made some big plays for us and started a spark. We are a different team when he is on the field. He is a leader and a lot of our kids look up to him and he kind of sparked us.”
Hardin’s pass from the 8-yard line found Reed for a touchdown. The two-point conversion was good on the direct snap to Wilson to make the score 24-8 with 1:44 to go in the first half.
“When 11 got back in the game he was a difference maker,” Hudson said. “Offensively and defensively you can tell he is what stirs their drink and we tried to do a good job all week long of preparing for that, but, a guy that size that is that fast you just cannot prepare for him”
Wilson finished with 192 rushing yards and one touchdown.
Cutter Morning Star responded with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Mills to senior Drew Newlin with 31 seconds left to go in the first half. Mills’ two-point conversion was completed to Weldon, trimming the scoreline to 24-16.
Genoa Central stalled at the Eagle 10-yard line after a big fumble recovery by junior Jock Simpson. Simpson then caught a 30yard pass and took a monster hit
before leaving the game. The Eagles turned the ball over on downs at the 45-yard line, but Simpson would return to the game.
Hardin’s pass from the 5-yard line was completed to Reed on a slant in the end zone with 2:18 left to go in the third. Reed took a toss off the edge for the two-point conversion. Genoa Central led 32-16.
“I am proud of our guys,” Hudson said. “They responded. We did not play good in the first half. When we came back in the second half we put our foot on the throttle and got back to who we are. We made some mistakes we have to clear up, but I like where we are standing.”
Genoa Central had a lot more depth.
“We ask a lot of our guys to go both ways,” Finley said. “Teams that have more numbers can play more guys and keep more guys fresh. We are getting there. We have a good group coming in junior high that is going to help us with our numbers.”
Mills had a solid first start at quarterback with 244 passing yards, 42 rushing yards and three interceptions. He accounted for two total touchdowns.
With 8:16 left in the game Reed took a quick pitch around the corner to the end zone for a Dragon touchdown. The two-point conversion was good by Wilson, and the Dragons led 40-16.
Reed was all over the field for the Dragons, racking up five total touchdowns, an interception and 108 total yards.
“I wish coming out to the second half only down a touchdown and we got a big turnover and then we stalled on offense,” Finley said. “I wish we had that drive back because if we go down and we execute and we score, I think it is a whole different ball game.”