Running back tandem keeps Hampton High perfect
Coming into the weekend the battle of the unbeaten teams, Hampton High (3-0) and L’Odyssée (3-0), was being dubbed a defensive battle.
L’Odyssée had given up a total of 43 points through their first three games, while Hampton had only given 48.
The first quarter of the game was everything the game was pegged to be, a defensive battle.
With the 3:41 left in the quarter the game saw its first points. Hampton High running back Mike Bettle connected on a 26-yard field goal to put the Huskies up 3-0 going into the second quarter.
To start off the second quarter the Huskies used Bettle and the other tail back in their wishbone offense, Nolan Long, to march the ball down field, with Long capping off the drive with a 15 yard scamper.
L’Odyssée weren’t about to roll over, as they used a quick strike attack through the air. QB #10 hit #9 across the middle and he ran it all the way down to the five yard line, only to have the play come back due to a block in the back. L’Odyssée failed to score on the drive.
Penalties played a key role in the game for the Olympiens.
With the offense not being able to find their rhythm, Olympiens Head Coach Serge Bourque turned to some trickery to try and spark the offense.
With the ball just on their own side of midfield, Bourque called up a fake punt that got the team the first down, but again, the play was negated due to a hold.
With 2:40 seconds left in the first half, the Huskies found themselves within field goal range on third down. However, Bettle shanked his kick, only to have Long pounce on the live ball in the end zone for his second major of the day.
Getting the ball back in his hands, QB #10 didn’t waste any time picking apart the Huskies secondary, finding #19 for another 80 yard gain before dumping off a pass to #36.
#10 also ran in a score before halftime.
“We are more of a run oriented team, but we have one of the best quarterbacks in the league, so we thought we might be able to air it out a bit,” said Bourque.
And air it out he did. To the tune of 231 passing yards in the first half.
With the score 17-15 Long put up another rushing touchdown, and before the third quarter was over, Bettle punched in one of his own.
The Huskies running backs combined for 284 yards rushing, leading the Huskies to a 31-15 Homecoming win.
Bettle finished the day with 170 yards on the ground, 122 coming in the second half alone.
“The first few plays I didn’t do that well, I didn’t really feel it,” said Bettle about his slow start. “The coaches kind of let me know about that, and then once they had a word with me, I felt I played quite well.”
Huskies Head Coach Mike Adams had nothing but great things to say about the effort put forth by his team following the game.
“This is so huge for this team, compared to where they were at this point last year. It is phenomenal to be 4-0,” referring to the 2-5 record the team had last year.
“With Mike Bettle, Nolan Long, Devin Holmes and Byron Henderson in there every once in a while, phenomenal offensive backfield, extremely fast and smart. But the key to all that is the blocking up front by the offensive line.”
The Huskies will look to stay perfect next week as they host the Saint Stephen Spartans (4-1) and the Olympiens will look to rebound as they host the Sussex Sonics (0-3).
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