Homecoming could be termed a success at North Sunflower Academy last Friday night.
In addition to the normal festivities which occur on this special night, the Rebels’ football team put an exclamation point on the evening with a 64-0 defeat of Calhoun Academy.
The unexpected annihilation of the previously once-beaten Cougars was so complete that the Rebels owned a 30-0 lead by the conclusion of the first quarter of the contest.
Improving their record to a 5-3, 2-2 record with the win, the loss dropped the record of the Cougars from Calhoun City to a 5-2, 2-2 mark.
With that District 1-2A win now a matter of record, the Rebels turn their attention to another district foe.
For this Friday’s 7 p.m. opponent will be the Tunica Academy Blue Devils.
Bringing a 2-5, 1-3 record to the NSA campus, the Blue Devils will also serve as the Rebels’ final home-field opponent of the regular season.
Over a decade has passed since NSA and Tunica Academy last played one another on a football field. That loss in 2009 to the Blue Devils extended an 11 game losing streak the Rebels have suffered to the Tunica school dating back to the 1993 season.
Overall, Tunica Academy owns a 12-4-1 advantage in this series between the two schools.
In last Friday’s win over Calhoun Academy, the rout began early for the Rebels.
Brandon Daniel began the NSA scoring deluge on the game’s second play when he intercepted a Cougars’ pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown.
The NSA scoring then became repeatedly rapid beginning with D.D. Williams’ 80 yard run to paydirt.
Williams would close out the first quarter of play with another long scoring run, on this occasion covering 70 yards.
Sandwiched in between these marathon runs was a 20 yard sprint to the end zone by Quando Townsend and the Rebels owned a 30-0 lead.
By halftime, the Rebels saw their lead grow to a 50-0 margin as their offense continued to produce long scoring plays.
Townsend would score his second TD of the night with a 50 yard reception from quarterback Nick Billhofer.
That play was followed by Williams’ third touchdown of the night, a 20 yard run up the middle of the field.
Billhofer would then throw his second of three touchdown passes of the night as Junior Washington was on the receiving end of an 80 yard scoring strike.
In the second half, Corey Coleman and Billhofer collaborated on a 25 yard touchdown pass while Daniel completed the NSA scoring with his 13 yard run.
Scoring two point conversions in this game were Williams (2), Cooper Neal (2) and Bryce Redwine.
Williams paced the Rebels’ rushing attack as he picked up 231 yards and three touchdowns on only six carries.
Billhofer completed four of his six passes at quarterback for 174 yards and three touchdowns.
Corey Coleman’s three receptions added 88 yards while Washington and Townsend pulled in one pass apiece for 80 and 50 yards respectively.
Defensively, Daniel paced the Rebels with his four solo, three assist, one interception for a touchdown night of play.
Washington was close behind with three solos and three assists while Townsend finished with two solos, seven assists, and one sack.
