LaGRANGE, Ga. – Maryville served notice here Saturday that its best days are ahead.
The Scots scored eight touchdowns in a 56-17 road shellacking of LaGrange, and five of those TDs were from first-year players.
Kevon Samuels caught seven passes for 189 yards and two scores. His TDs covered 65 and 25 yards from fellow rookie
Bryson Rollins, who also ran for a score. Tailback
Tad Logan Jr., carried for a pair of 4-yard touchdowns to cap the first-year onslaught.
"It was really good to play balanced football today," Maryville head coach
Ben Fox said. "I'm really happy with our performance today both offensively and defensively. We wanted to start fast, and I'm glad we were able to do that. Our guys executed at a really high level."
Rollins was solid, going 12-of-20 through the air for 237 yards. The majority of those completions and yards went to Samuels as the rookie tandem is starting to click.
"Both of those guys could click with just about anybody," Fox said. "It's two talented guys and I'm glad we have them both. They trust each other and have a good idea about where the other one is going to be, and they compete really hard."
Running Game Rolls
Also competing Saturday was the Maryville running game, which finished one yard shy of 300. Logan carried 19 times for 119 yards, a 6.3-yard average. This after starter
Cody Estep gained 63 yards on 12 carries and scored a first-quarter touchdown.
Tevin Thrower carried six times for 42 yards and a touchdown, and
Jalen Sharp added nine carries for 38 yards.
The icing was a 10-yard TD quarterback keeper from backup signal-caller
Zach Hollman.
"I'm really happy for Tad," Fox said. "Cody played well at the start but then Tad came on and was fantastic. We were already down our normal backup in
Braden Dunson, which made today an opportunity for Tad.
"I'm really happy for him because he practices the right way, practices hard every day and maximizes his reps. He's a physical runner with better speed than you think, and I'm really proud of him."
The Scots tallied 21 points in the first and fourth quarters, sandwiched around a pair of 7-point periods. Maryville outgained LaGrange 559-279, including a 299-56 rushing edge. The previous Scots high in rushing this season was 161 in the opener against Berry.
Another first-year Scot, defensive lineman
Mike Bethea, had two of the team's five sacks.
Jonathan Harris and
Devon White were the team tackle leaders with five apiece, including 1½ sacks for Harris.
Dorian Champion intercepted a pass and
Grant Henderson made two pass breakups.
Defense Limits Damage
Except for a 73-yard LaGrange touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, Saturday was a good showing for the defense.
"We gave up one big play late, and that's kind of been our Achilles' heel," Fox said. "But we are really stout on the defensive line of scrimmage and in the box. It's hard for people to run the ball on us, consistently. We have to continue to foster that and continue to get after the passer with our front. It makes everybody's job easier when we are able to rush the passer."
Saturday marked the fourth game in a row Maryville has allowed fewer than 100 rushing yards.
The Scots improved to 2-1 in the USA South and 2-4 overall. Another road game awaits next Saturday at Southern Virginia.
"Every game is a conference game from here on out," Fox said. "Every game is a big opportunity. We want our program to be one that builds men into finishers. They've worked really hard all year, and they've got five weeks left.
"We've got five weeks left to finish this opportunity because we want to be the best team we can be at the end of the year."
