After suffering a tough loss to No. 1-ranked Dr. Phillips at home last week, the Boone Braves (3-3) didn’t weep for long. The loss was the first at home in 17 games, snapping a historic winning streak.

On Thursday, the Braves hosted a non-district Homecoming Game and got back to their winning ways with a 37-7 win over visiting University (2-5). Coming into the night the Braves were 5-0 against the Cougars over the past five years, outscoring them by a combined 167-43. This night was no different. The Braves scored four touchdowns and a field goal in the first half, leading 30-0 after 24 minutes of play.

“The big thing was working together,” head coach Phil Ziglar said while walking off the field with a smile on his face. “We came together as a team and showed them what we can do.”

Leading Boone was freshman running back A.J. Turman. The 6-foot, 185 pounder tore through the Cougar defense for 162 yards on 24 carries, by far the biggest night of his young career.

Handing the ball off to Turman was senior Sam Hutsell, who went 8 of 14 for 144 yards (18 yards per completion) and threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to senior Denard Lucas. Hutsell also ran in a six-yard touchdown with eight seconds left in the second quarter.

Lucas had a big night while racking up 104 yards receiving. His longest catch was made in the second quarter when he went for 57 yards on what seemed to be a play that would never end as he broke countless tackles over a span of more than 30 seconds before finally wearing out and being taken down. Junior Black Herring had an eight-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to put Boone up 37-0.

“We’re going to come out with intensity and win all our games,” said Turman after the game while being congratulated. “Our goal is to make it back to states and win it all.”

On the defensive side, senior Tabarie Sullivan had two interceptions and Robert Akos also picked off a pass. Senior Mike Martinez had a sack and junior Jake Pender had a tackle for loss. For special teams, senior Calvin Washington returned a punt for a touchdown.

University quarterback Curtis Riley connected with Sean Beckton for a 44-yard touchdown late in the fourth to avoid the shutout for the Cougars.

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Photos by Stephen M. Dowell at Orlando Sentinel