By DAVID MILLER
Special to The Dispatch
CALEDONIA — It was over in five plays.
The New Hope Trojans scored three touchdowns before reaching a half-dozen snaps from scrimmage, Trenton Spann scored three touchdowns, and the Trojans beat Lowndes County rival 41-17 Friday night.
A week after dropping 35 points and beating rival Columbus High, New Hope sewed up the county crown with three scoring plays of 40 yards or more in the opening three minutes of play. Brenton Spann had scoring runs of 40 and 58 yards, and finished the game with 157 yards on five carries and three touchdowns.
New Hope quarterback Stone Sisson hit a wide-open TJ Stephens for a 58-yard score over the middle to set the rout off proper at 20-0.
“They threw a lot of stuff at us early,” Caledonia coach Andy Crotwell said. “I know they wanted to jump out early, given the history of the rivalry. They did a good job doing that. They put us on our heels a little bit and did some things they had not shown. They have an outstanding football team that’s gonna be the best or among the best offenses we see all year.”
New Hope’s variety made for touchdowns in which players on all three New Hope scores were untouched. Spann lined up at quarterback on his first touchdown, knifing left off-tackle before bursting through the Caledonia secondary. His second score came on a zone read in which he cut against the grain and zipped up the right hash.
“It was our rabbit formation — kind of like a wildcat,” Spann explained. “We had good blocking on the edge, and I was able to get around the outside and cut back in.
“It really came from the o-line,” Spann added. “We all push each other to do better, but I have to give it to the O-line because they did a heck of a job.”
Though Spann’s night was over after just five carries, the speedy junior upped his statistics to a level worthy of baller status. Through three games, Spann is averaging 9.8 yards per carry and has gained 521 yards. Spann has six touchdowns.
“I’m just going with the flow,” Spann said.
The New Hope offense was aided by a lackluster start by the Confederates, who had two players bobble the opening kickoff and fumbling it away to Trojans. Caledonia followed with a three-and-out on its first offensive series and two penalties that saw the ‘Feds punt on 4th-and-21 on its second drive.
Down 20-7 and at the end of a 10-play drive at the New Hope 20, Caledonia’s chances of a comeback were further dampened by an interception. New Hope scored on its next two drives before the break to put the game out of reach
” The speed at which New Hope is accustomed to playing, and the speed we’re accustomed to playing at, are a little different,” Crotwell said. “We have to play faster, and I don’t mean necessarily, no huddle, but read recognition, getting in and out of breaks. We have to play faster.”
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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