Hanks Ends The Football Season With a Big Team Victory

By Vianet Lopez
Sports Reporter, Hanks

416.

The number when it stands alone is only a number. When it’s attached to rushing yards, then the number places senior Adonis Powell in the record books.

Powell, in his and the team’s final game of the season, rushed for 416 and accounted for seven touchdowns as the Knights pummeled the Eastwood Troopers 61-45.

It was an amazing turnout at Friday’s game as the Knights went against the Eastwood Troopers. Both teams entered the game with the same 2-5 district record. Eastwood would add another loss to their board. As Hanks celebrated senior night, both teams were ready to go.

Starting off the game, Powell (35 carries, 416 yards, 6 TDs rushing, 1 TD passing) had his fans and the audience on their feet from the beginning.

About two minutees in, Powell ran the ball for 37 yards into the endzone to give the Knights an early 7-0 lead. The Troopers managed to tie the game early but they had no idea what was about to hit them. It took 13 seconds for the Knights to regain the lead as junior Patrick Pettis (2 catches, 36 yards, 8 carries for 117 yards, 1 TD rushing, 1 KO return TD) would carry the ball 83 yards to make the score 14-7.

“They didn’t touch me,” said Pettis. ”There’s not a fingerprint on me.”

With four minutes left in the second quarter, junior Emilio Noriega (9-for-11, 124 yards) quick snapped to Powell. Powell found the left sideline and ran 34 yards to give a 20-19 lead. A late touchdown came from the Troopers as the half ended with Eastwood leading 25-20.

In the third quarter, Powell helped the Knights regain the lead with two touchdowns to give the Knights a 33-25 lead. The Troopers added another score to tie the game at 33.

Once the Troopers tied the game at the end of the third quarter, the Knights put the game out of reach as they scored 21 unanswered points to put the game out of reach. At this time, Powell had 382 yards rushing. The only thing left was to see if Powell would get a chance to crack the 400-yard barrier.

With roughly four minutes to go in the game, Powell rushed up the middle for 28 yards to set the school’s single-game rushing record. He would get one more carry to finish the game with 416. As the students rushed the stadium, a couple of Powell’s teammates put him on their shoulders. The scene was reminiscent of Notre Dame’s Rudy Ruettiger being carried off the field at the end of the film, “Rudy.”