In the grand scheme of things, the first few weeks of high school football have very little value in the race for the postseason. Maybe other than figuring out just how competitive each team is before the games truly begin to count.

That’s why coaches have found ways to keep their kids encouraged after losses and focused after wins. Neighboring rivalries are nice to win, but finishing in one of the two top spots in your district will keep the dream of a state championship alive.

The football team at Boone High School knows this all too well. At 2-2 overall and now 1-0 in District 6 after a big 49-13 win over Gateway (1-3, 0-1), a new season may be just what’s needed.

Boone Braves –

Senior quarterback Sam Hutsell had a light workload last week, taking the night off after Boone built a 42-6 halftime lead. He rushed for 72 yards on five carries, one of which went for a score from 11 yards out early in the second quarter. Hutsell also broke off runs of 24, 20 and 17 yards by cutting, spinning and pushing his way through traffic. His only two completions of the game went to senior Jack Moch (9 yards) and sophomore Jason Torres (14 yards).

Carrying the load out of the backfield for the Braves were seniors Skyler Gromlich and Calvin Washington, and junior Blake Hererington.

Gromlich took his first handoff of the game late in the first quarter and scored on a 46-yard carry after bouncing off a defender and rumbling his way up field for the score. Washington scored on a 2-yard carry midway through the first quarter and had several carries of five yards to his credit. Hererington took a handoff for 18 yards before going 40 yards for a touchdown with 44-seconds to go in first half.

Seniors Tabarie Sullivan and Ryan Orlando led the special teams and defensive units. Sullivan returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown to end the first quarter and broke up a pass in the secondary while Orlando had a tackle-for-loss and blocked a punt late in the first quarter, which was recovered by senior Kyle Adams for a 1-yard score. Adams also had a tackle-for-loss in the win.

Delivering big hits on the night were junior James Erthal (on special teams), sophomore Austin Weller (sack), senior Mike Martinez (sack), senior Travis Armstead and junior Jake Pinder. Senior Garrett Lattin broke up a pass and senior offensive lineman Derrick Wood recovered a fumble in the first quarter.

Boone enters a bye week with a 2-2 overall mark and a big district game against Dr. Phillips looming. (Photo by Justin Kane)

Gateway Panthers –

The opening drive for Gateway proved to be their peak-performance on Friday night.

After being set-up by a 28-yard kick return by junior Dovanta Dobson, the Panthers offense started at Boone’s 46-yard line. From there junior quarterback Roger Allen connected with senior Richard Simpson for a 21-yard pickup. The very next play they hooked up again as Simpson went up overtop a defender and brought down the ensuing pass in the end zone for a 25-yard score. Then the kick was blocked and the visiting team never threatened again.

Simpson also had a run of 14 yard and Dobson a touchdown run of 33 yards.

Senior Michael Fulmore had a tackle-for-loss, juniors Angel Benavides and Carlos Delgado made touchdown saving tackles, and junior Dyshawn Markley broke up a pass.

– More Gateway at Boone coverage:

Short story and extra links at OSC