Hoggatt’s touchdown runs lead Palestine-Wheatley past Cross County
Palestine-Wheatley 50, Cross County 6
PALESTINE — Maddox Hoggatt scored three first-half rushing touchdowns, and Palestine-Wheatley added four touchdowns after halftime to defeat Cross County 50-6 Friday at Patriot Field.
Hoggatt accounted for the Patriots’ opening touchdown before adding a 7-yard scoring run on third-and-goal with 2:05 left in the first quarter. A successful two-point conversion extended Palestine-Wheatley’s lead to 14-0.
Cross County stopped the next Patriots possession when Ayden Kraft tackled Hoggatt short of the marker on fourth-and-eight, giving the Thunderbirds the ball at their 17.
Hoggatt scored again on an 11-yard fourth-down run with 5:05 remaining in the second quarter. Another two-point conversion made it 22-0.
Cross County’s Kolby Walker recorded a third-down tackle for loss against quarterback Easton Vaccaro and recovered a fumble near the Thunderbirds’ 6-yard line late in the half. Palestine-Wheatley running back Adron Cooper accumulated 105 first-half rushing yards, according to the broadcast’s unofficial tally.
Patrick McCall finished the Patriots’ opening second-half possession with a 24-yard touchdown run at 9:46. The extra-point attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the score 28-0.
Cross County answered on its next possession. After converting fourth-and-one near midfield, quarterback Trytan Tucker ran 49 yards through the middle for a touchdown with 7:35 remaining in the third quarter. The two-point run was stopped.
Hoggatt added another rushing touchdown with 1:21 left in the third. A successful conversion pushed the lead to 36-6, and Palestine-Wheatley recovered the ensuing kickoff at Cross County’s 39.
That possession ended with a 3-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. Bryar Lacefield ran for the two-point conversion, making it 44-6.
Palestine-Wheatley’s defense stopped Cross County on fourth down at the Patriots’ 45 with 7:25 remaining in the game.
Rader McCoy scored on a fourth-and-one rushing play in the closing seconds to complete the scoring.
Palestine-Wheatley improved to 2-0. Cross County is 1-1.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Palestine-Wheatley – Maddox Hoggatt touchdown run, distance not provided (conversion failed), Palestine-Wheatley 6-0.
Palestine-Wheatley – Maddox Hoggatt 7-yard run (two-point conversion good), Palestine-Wheatley 14-0. 2:05.
2nd Quarter
Palestine-Wheatley – Maddox Hoggatt 11-yard run (two-point conversion good), Palestine-Wheatley 22-0. 5:05.
3rd Quarter
Palestine-Wheatley – Patrick McCall 24-yard run (Easton Vaccaro kick failed), Palestine-Wheatley 28-0. 9:46.
Cross County – Trytan Tucker 49-yard run (Kolby Walker two-point run failed), Palestine-Wheatley 28-6. 7:35.
Palestine-Wheatley – Maddox Hoggatt touchdown run, distance not provided (two-point conversion good), Palestine-Wheatley 36-6. 1:21.
4th Quarter
Palestine-Wheatley – Scorer not identified in the transcript, 3-yard run (Bryar Lacefield two-point run), Palestine-Wheatley 44-6. 11:07.
Palestine-Wheatley – Rader McCoy touchdown run on fourth-and-one, distance not provided (no conversion recorded), Palestine-Wheatley 50-6. Closing seconds.
Players of the Game
Maddox Hoggatt, Palestine-Wheatley: At least four rushing touchdowns, including three before halftime. His documented scoring runs included 7 yards on third-and-goal and 11 yards on fourth down.
Adron Cooper, Palestine-Wheatley: 105 first-half rushing yards, according to the broadcast’s unofficial tally. Also converted a third-down run on the Patriots’ opening second-half touchdown drive.
Patrick McCall, Palestine-Wheatley: 24-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter. Defensively, stopped Alex Sinclair for no gain on third-and-one during Cross County’s next possession.
Trytan Tucker, Cross County: 49-yard rushing touchdown with 7:35 remaining in the third quarter, following the Thunderbirds’ fourth-and-one conversion near midfield.
Kolby Walker, Cross County: One fumble recovery near Cross County’s 6-yard line late in the first half and a third-down tackle for loss against Easton Vaccaro.