Minutes after his team's game against Wayne County, New Hampstead head coach Kyle Hockman gushed and reflected about quarterback Rashawn Truell. Hockman surely has enjoyed the ride.
The thing about Rashawn is that we can do anything," said Hockman. "We can play any style of ball with him. He can zone read and play RPO (run-pass option), we can also run drop back, and we can play action. We can deal with whatever they are giving us we are able to take.
"It has been pretty neat to have him. He made it look easy."
Truell generated his coach's reaction after he threw for 205 yards with four touchdown passes in New Hampstead's 40-7 rout of Wayne Country at Pooler Stadium.
However, it was the Phoenix's running game that opened up the game early.
On the Phoenix's opening possession, Ari Theriot broke free on a 54-yard jaunt down the sidelines that set up Kameron Blake-Mazes's 13-yard scamper for a 7-0 lead with 5:57 left in the opening quarter.
After New Hampstead forced a punt on the ensuing possession, Blake-Mazes scored his second touchdown of the night on a 10-yard burst into the end zone that gave them a 13-0 advantage in the closing minute of the first quarter.
New Hampstead then recovered an onside kick, and they wasted little time when Truell hit a wide-open Christian Kinlaw, due to an excellent play-fake, on a 13-yard strike that began to put the game away for the Phoenix at 19-0 over a listless Wayne squad.
Wayne did manage to drive down to the New Hampstead seven-yard line, but they failed to convert a 25-yard field goal attempt.
From there, the rest of the night belonged to Truell.
Truell hit Theriot on a 37-yard dart on their next possession, and he later connected with Mason Brown on a beautifully laid 10-yard touchdown toss in the back of the end zone that gave the Phoenix a commanding 33-0 halftime bulge.
The senior signal caller finished the half with 158 yards passing, hitting on 10 of 12 passes. Truell ended his night when he found Brown again on a 10-yard dart as the third quarter ended, and the Phoenix had a running clock with a 40-0 bulge.
With the win, New Hampstead (3-5) snapped a four-game winning streak, and the Phoenix also posted their first AAAA Region I victory. Aside from Truell, Hockman credited the play of his defense, which limited winless Wayne (0-9) to 57 yards in the opening half.
"We knew they were struggling, and we took what they gave us," said Hockman. "Our defense has really improved the past couple of weeks, and they did a nice job in the opening half to shut them down."
Truell, who entered the game with 19 touchdown passes, realized Wayne's adjustments and made the most of his night. He did have plenty of time to throw and credited his offensive line for their protection.
"They tried to make us run the ball or put the ball behind their linebackers," said Truell. "We adjusted our game plan and ran the ball early more than we usually do. We were able to get what we wanted and scored fast. It was a good game for our offense.
"Our O-line works hard every day, and we knew we had some young lineman coming into the season. But they have been working their tails off to get better. They played a heckuva game.
Hockman knows his team will need the same kind of effort when they travel to Benedictine (4-4) next Thursday.
.
"I think we're getting there," he stated. "If we can get one or two we'll be in the playoffs, and I think we're ready for a run."
Truell had a slightly stronger feeling about the next two weeks.
"It will be a big game next week," he stressed. "But if we come out and play our game, we can compete with anybody. Hopefully, we can make the playoffs."
| New Hampstead 40, Wayne Co. 7 | |||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| Wayne County | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| New Hampstead | 13 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 40 |
| First Quarter | |||||
|
NH- Kameron Blake-Mazes 13 run (Jamall Brown kick) |
|||||
| NH- Blake-Mazes 10 run (kick failed) | |||||
| Second Quarter | |||||
|
NH – Christian Kinlaw 13 pass from Rashawn Truell (kick failed) |
|||||
|
NH – Ari Theriot 37 pass from Truell (Brown kick) |
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NH – Mason Brown 10 pass from Truell (Brown kick) |
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| Third Quarter | |||||
|
NH – Brown 10 pass from Truell (Brown kick) |
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| Fourth Quarter | |||||
|
W- Victor Levett 60 run (Christian Sellers kick) |
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|
Records--New Hampstead 3-5, 1-2 Region 1-4A; Wayne Co. 0-9, 0-4 region. |
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WEEK 11 SCHEDULE
Oct. 22 Tuesday
ECI 54, Savannah High 14 *
Oct. 24 Thursday
Liberty County 14, Beach 0 *
Oct. 25, Friday
Lowndes 28, Richmond Hill 7 *
Lakeside Evans 59, Bradwell 20 *
Effingham County 45, Glynn Academy 42 *
Statesboro 41, South Effingham 7 *
Perry 31, Benedictine 27 *
New Hampstead 40, Wayne County 7 *
Calvary Day 42, Groves 6*
Johnson 21, Windsor Forest 7
Savannah Christian 48, Swainsboro 12 *
Savannah Country Day 33, Episcopal School (FL) 10
MCA 46, Savannah High 6*
Frederica Academy 49, St. Andrew's 8
David Emanuel Academy 44, Memorial Day 12
Pee Dee Academy 25, Bethesda 22
Providence Athletic Club 74, Coastal Homeschool 26*
Oct. 26, Saturday
Islands at Jenkins (MS) *
*Region Game
Photo Credit: Courtesy Asher Johnson @itstheworlmedia
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