Royals rout Warriors

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CHARLOTTESVILLE — Even in the sloppiest conditions, Eastern Hancock’s offense could not be contained.

On a cool, wet Friday at Ed Knarr Field, the Class 2A No. 2 Royals, behind its versatile offensive attack, handed visiting Wes-Del its third straight loss of the season. Junior running back Devin Denny ran for 104 yards as Eastern Hancock cruised to a 42-0 win.

With winds soaring around 20 miles per hour, the Royals scored five rushing touchdowns, including three by senior fullback Matt Bowman, as the team surpassed 30 points for the sixth time this season.

The win also keeps the Royals’ undefeated season alive and gives the team a 7-0 start for the second time in three seasons.

As good as the offense was, however, the defense might have been better. The Royals recorded their first shutout of the season against Wes-Del while only allowing one first down the entire first half.

“All night I thought our defense was pretty good,” Eastern Hancock defensive coordinator Clayton Schultz said. “It might have been the best three quarters we’ve played. We were solid against the run.”

Offensively, Eastern Hancock opened the game with three scores on its first four possessions. Despite the wind, sophomore quarterback Jarett Lewis found his tight end Clayton Cochard for a 37-yard touchdown pass to get the offense rolling early with 9:29 remaining in the first quarter.

Lewis would only attempt four more passes in the half as Eastern Hancock countered the conditions with ground-and-pound football.

Bowman would add his first score of the game midway through the first quarter with a 5-yard scamper that capped a 10 play, 36-yard drive, giving the Royals a 14-0 lead.

Two more Bowman scores gave Eastern Hancock a commanding 29-0 lead at the break.

The Royals came out in the second half with the same intensity. A nine play, 47-yard drive to open the half ate up nearly six minutes of clock and ended with Lewis scoring from 16 yards out, his fourth rushing touchdown of the season.

Denny got on the board next, his first time in the contest, with a 46-yard touchdown run with 4:08 remaining in the third quarter to give Eastern Hancock its final 42-0 lead.

Senior defensive back Clayton Brumfield recorded his fifth interception of the season late in the third quarter as the Royals brought in their reserve players in the final quarter.

Eastern Hancock heads to Class 1A No. 9 Shenandoah (5-1) next week followed by a home contest against Lapel on Oct. 16 to close their season.

“They are just a good, solid program,” Schultz said. “It will be a really good test, and we look forward to that.”