Canton, Ga. – Unprecedented is probably an overused word in general, but that is the only word to describe Andrews’ early season offensive explosion.
The Wildcats woke up in the third quarter Friday night and blew open a close game with six late touchdowns on the way to a 53-20 win over the North Georgia Falcons.
Andrews (2-1) is averaging 48 points through the first three games, including two wins and a triple overtime loss. The Wildcats have scored 50 points in back-to-back games for the first time in at least 60 years, to which readily available records go back.
“I’m proud of our boys and the coaching staff,” Andrews coach James Phillips said. “They have put in a ton of hard work in the offseason and in season breaking down film and providing graded game critique the players can learn from the following week. The players have done a great job of continuing to be unsatisfied with their work.
“They are hungry to win and earn respect.”
Andrews got four touchdowns on the ground from Gavin Wilson, including two that pushed the visitors into the lead for good in the second half. Wilson rushed for a career-high 161 yards, while his backfield mate Landon White pounded out 172 yards and two scores.
“We struggled in the first half with containing the quarterback and getting depth with the DBs, stuff like that, but in the second half we got some momentum,” Wilson said. “We got our run game going and got our blocking schemes down.”
Indeed, Falcons quarterback Dominick Byrd gave the Cats in the first half, rushing for two scores, then he threw a 65-yard touchdown pass to give North Georgia its only lead at 20-14.
“The first game against Trinity and this game we faced a team with athletes that can run all over the field,” Phillips said. “It’s good experience to face teams like that especially to get ready for the playoffs, so in the long run, tonight will help with our confidence.”
Then the explosion came, and Andrews scored the last 39 points of the game, capitalizing on Falcon mistakes.
“The kids played pretty physical,” Phillips said. “I think they responded to the coaches after we challenged them at halftime after a sloppy first half where we didn’t execute well. Obviously we did in the second half and I was proud of that.”
Andrews picked up yards in chunks, gaining 6.7 yards per rush on 59 carries.
“We always say that our line loses or wins the game for us, and we did a lot better in that second half,” Andrews quarterback Tucker Holloway said. “They definitely won it for us tonight. We did well containing the quarterback in the second half, who was super fast.”
Holloway completed just one pass, but it was a touchdown to Gage Gillespie in the first quarter. He later ran for a 45-yard score and was 5-for-8 on extra point kicks.
“Extra points and field goals we weren’t very good tonight, and special teams are just as important as offense and defense,” Phillips said. “We some work to do defensively on tackling and we had some stupid penalties on offense, but that’s why you practice.”
Shootout at Hugh Hamilton?
Rabun Gap (2-2) comes to town Friday night on the heels of its own scoring outburst, putting up 45 in a win over Franklin and 48 in a shootout loss to Robbinsville last week.
The Wildcats are hoping to keep this momentum going in front of the home fans.
“We came out in the second half and executed, played the best we could,” senior lineman Connor Silvers said. “We are gaining confidence to get back to practice and get ready for Rabun Gap.”
“Another win sounds good but we need to regroup and have a good week of practice,” Holloway said. “We have to work on our pass defense and not give up the long ball.”