Hilltoppers manhandle Hurricanes on Homecoming

JOHNSON CITY - A drama-filled week for the Science Hill football team came to an end on Friday night with a suspense-free victory against Morristown East. The Hilltoppers piled up 44 points in the first half and rode a continuous clock to a 58-0 Big East Conference victory over the Hurricanes that sent the crowd home happy on Homecoming. With the win, Science Hill enters its bye week 6-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play. Morristown East fell to 1-6 overall and 0-2 in conference play. "We're still working, evolving and getting better," said Science Hill coach Stacy Carter. "A lot of people got a lot of reps tonight, and we saw a lot of good things." The jubilant postgame atmosphere on Friday night stood in stark contrast to the mood in Science Hill's football facility for most of the week. The Hilltoppers received a letter from the TSSAA informing the program it would have to forfeit its first two games of the season for playing players against Elizabethton and Morristown West deemed ineligible due to the governing body's coach link rule. Science Hill appealed the decision, and the TSSAA Board of Control approved the appeal by unanimous vote during a special called meeting on Thursday. There wasn't much doubt about Friday's result after the Hilltoppers sprinted out to a 44-0 lead at halftime. For the second game in a row, starting quarterback Pearson Harrison was razor sharp, completing his first six pass attempts with Nash Martinez and Reggie Lucy entering the fray as playmakers. Harrison finished up at halftime with 83 passing yards and a rushing touchdown. "We got a lot of opportunities for shot plays tonight," Harrison said. "We didn't hit all of them, but to at least see those plays in a game and being able to rep those was a great opportunity." The success of the passing game helped further open up a running game that has been dominant all season. Kiantai Harris finished with 128 yards on 10 carries and three touchdowns - all in the first half - and Sage Milhorn also broke into the end zone on a tough 1-yard TD run. The defense also managed to put points on the board in the first half. Jack Staggs returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown and linebacker Zack Matherne forced a safety when Morristown East was called for intentional grounding in its own end zone. The interception by Staggs marked Science Hill's fourth interception in the past two games. "That was great pressure and a great play," Carter said. "Games turn on plays like that, and our defense has been able to do that four times in the past two games." The big play by Staggs gave Science Hill a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, and the Hilltoppers piled on 30 more points in the second quarter. The clock was continuous in the second half, but the Hilltoppers still found the time to add two more touchdowns. Mac Gillert hit Martinez with a 38-yard TD pass in the third quarter and Knox Necessary broke off a 67-yard TD run in the fourth to complete the scoring. The Hilltoppers will now enjoy a bye week heading into a big showdown against Maryville at home on Oct. 16. Carter said he's glad to be entering the bye week on a high note. "I think it's a good time," he said. "You want to play well, win big and go in with a good feeling." Science Hill 58, Morristown East 0 Morristown East 0 0 0 0 - 0 Science Hill 14 30 7 7 - 58 First Quarter SH - Pearson Harrison 2 run (Bryson Phillips kick) SH - Jack Staggs 45 interception return (Phillips kick) Second Quarter SH - Kiantai Harris 10 run (Phillips kick) SH - Zack Matherne safety SH - Harris 33 run (Phillips kick) SH - Milhorn 1 run (Phillips kick) SH - Harris 6 run (Phillips kick) Third Quarter SH - Nash Martinez 38 pass from Mac Gillert (Max Zahner kick) Fourth Quarter SH - Knox Necessary 67 run (Zahner kick)