Huskey carries Harrison

GREENBRIER -- The Harrison Goblins brought a 6-0 record into their 5A-West showdown with the 4-2 Greenbrier Panthers.

Led by all-purpose running back Gabe Huskey, the Goblins remained perfect, taking down the Panthers 40-7.

Huskey, who entered the game among the state's leaders with 900 yards rushing, was too much for the Panthers, racking up 161 yards rushing and 51 receiving for a total of 212 yards.

The Panthers did strike first. After a 38-yard run by Seth Howard down to the Goblins' 10-yard line, quarterback Andrew Johnson hit Ryan Barnard in the end zone to make it 7-0.

After that, it was all Goblins. Johnson connected with Huskey on a 32-yard pass to the Greenbrier 16. Brooks Both scored from 2 yards out to tie the game at 7-7.

The Goblins' defense then forced another punt. This time their offense was unable to move the ball, but they recovered a fumbled punt to get the ball back at the Greenbrier 32. A few plays later, Huskey finished things off with a 3-yard run to make it 14-7.

The Goblins' defense stood tough again, forcing Greenbrier to punt out of its own end zone, giving Harrison good field possession. Huskey took a pitch around the left end all the way down to the 12. They then lined up in the Wild Goblin formation, with Huskey running it in to make it 21-7.

Harrison broke the game open on Greenbrier's next possession when Collin Ballard intercepted a tipped pass giving the ball back to the Goblins at the 14. Two plays later, Huskey scored on an 8-yard run. The point-after attempt failed to make it 27-7 at the half.

The second half started out with a bang. The Goblins' Bryant Ulrich fielded a hard, line-drive onside kick, broke through the Panthers' line, and took it to the house for a 33-7 lead.

Harrison added another score later after Ulrich ran to the 25, followed by a touchdown connection from Johnson to Colton Shaver to make the final 40-7.

"After that first drive, I really thought our defense set the tone for the game," Goblins Coach Joel Wells said. "We had a flurry there in the second quarter that kind of took them out of the game.

"We blocked well for Gabe on the edge. He's a real tough kid with a lot of speed."

Harrison (7-0, 4-0 5A-West) plays at Alma next week while Greenbrier (4-3, 2-2) plays at Clarksville.

[HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Click here for more scores, recaps and photos]

Sports on 10/13/2018

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