Leavitt’s Mark Herman charges down the field, escaping York’s Nat Grader and Riley Lynn, during Saturday night’s football game in Turner. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)
TURNER — Leavitt junior Damion Calder had a first quarter many high school football players would like to call a season, perhaps even a career, during Saturday night’s 50-7 homecoming win over York.
Calder scored all three times he touched the ball in the first quarter, twice rushing and once receiving, all on plays exceeding 40 yards. He added a 53-yard touchdown in the second half and an interception for good measure as the Hornets improved to 4-0.
Calder took the same play, a jet sweep, to the end zone on runs of 49 and 67 yards on his first two touches, the second of which put Leavitt in front to stay, 13-7, just six minutes into the game.
Unlike a parent who can’t pick a favorite child, though, Calder was particularly fond of his third touchdown, a 44-yard pass reception from Wyatt Hathaway when there was still 4:44 left in the first quarter.
“My favorite touchdown would be the passing touchdown,” he said. “Coach (Mike Hathaway) lined me up for the wheel and I just ran that thing outside. Wyatt threw it and I caught up to it and caught it.”
“He’s started a couple of games pretty fast for us,” Mike Hathaway said. “He and (junior slot) Mark Herman, they’re fast and they’re good in the open field. If we can get them to the second level, they’re going to make some plays.”
Calder added a 53-yard touchdown run on another jet sweep two plays into the second half to finish with 169 yards rushing on only three carries. Herman added 55 yards on five first-half carries. Bradley Moreau gained 56 yards and a touchdown on nine rushes. Wyatt Hathaway added a 25-yard touchdown run.
“We know that we’ve got multiple guys that can just dish it in there,” said sophomore Tommy Casey, who not only opened up holes for Calder and company on the line but also starred on defense. “As long as we hold our blocks long enough, they can make something happen.”
Leavitt’s defense and special teams helped the offense make things happen by setting it up in York (2-2) territory on six of the first unit’s nine possessions.
“Our kickoff team has been really good this year,” Mike Hathaway said. “Stephen (Gray) has done a nice job kicking the ball. He gets nice height on it and gets it inside the 10, usually. And this has been the best coverage team that we’ve had. We’ve got some guys that can run and some guys that can tackle.”
“The defense played well,” he added. “I thought we did a decent job against their passing game.”
The Hornets sacked York quarterback Teagan Hynes (20-for-32, 185 yards, one TD) three times and intercepted him twice. Allen Peabody had the other pick. The defense also forced a fumble that ended with a 15-yard scoop-and-score by Cole Morin.
“Stopping the pass was definitely the key, since they are such a passing team,” Casey said. “I think we did well in our coverage most of the time.”
Leavitt was even better against the run, stuffing the Wildcats for minus-9 net yards (sacks included) on 27 rushes.
York’s lone touchdown came after Calder’s first score. Hynes threw to the right corner of the end zone for Jake Nelson, who hauled in the pass after it deflected off of a Leavitt defensive back’s shoulder pads.
Gray booted a 28-yard field goal to cap the scoring at the end of the third quarter.
Leavitt’s Garrett Jabbusch runs through the pack during Saturday night’s football game in Turner. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)
Leavitt’s Cole Morin gets taken down by York’s Colin Edminster during Saturday night’s football game in Turner. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)
Leavitt’s Mark Herman breaks through the pack during Saturday night’s football game against York in Turner. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)
Leavitt’s Garrett Jabbusch struggles to break free from York’s Zach Mayo during Saturday night’s football game in Turner. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)
Leavitt’s Allen Peabody runs to the end zone during Saturday night’s football game in Turner. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)
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