Shown here in a photo last season, Spring Creek’s football program is undergoing a change in “The Swamp” that hasn’t gone un-noticed from opposing coaches. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
SEVEN SPRINGS — Is the football culture changing in “The Swamp.”
An opposing coach certainly thinks so.
Once the clock hit triple zeros Friday evening, Hobbton head coach Joe Salas and Spring Creek head coach Ron Wise met at midfield. The two shook hands and spoke briefly.
What happened next stunned Wise.
“Their head coach said that’s not [the old] Spring Creek,” Wise said after Hobbton’s 59-28 win. “The team we played [tonight] is not Spring Creek. You’ve been working, coach. You’re making a difference. I told him ‘I appreciate that’ and respected that mutual respect.”
The compliment momentarily soothed the stinging loss.
Wise’s spirits picked back up when he learned the passing combo of Brennan Chambers and Darius “DJ” Deal set three school records.
The duo hooked up for a 97-yard touchdown pass — the longest in program history — during the opening quarter. Chambers caught two more passes of 60 and 15 yards. His three scoring receptions are a single-game record.
Deal’s three TD tosses are also a single-game record.
“That’s incredible,” Wise said.
Hobbton (2-2 overall) scored in every period.
Junior quarterback Joe Corbett accounted for 37 points — five touchdowns (three rushing, two passing), a field goal and four PATs.
“It was drastically different than last year … very much winnable [but] we were just flat in the third quarter,” Wise said. “We watched so much film and prepared for them. We knew everything they were going to do. Our kids were legitimately upset because they felt like they should have won this game.
“For us to be leaps bounds [better] compared to where we were last year, it says a lot.”
Wise lauded the blocking efforts and strong play of Rennie Street Jr., Isaib Espinoza Chavez, Aaron Ruiz, Nick Smith, Angel Casteneda and Alex Lopez.
He heaped praise on Malachi Moore, Nysir Kenon, Ryan “Bones” Kornegay, Alex Lopez, Christian Lopez, Zay Johnson and Nathaniel Slye.
“If it wasn’t for the effort they put in, we weren’t able to do some of the things we did,” said Wise, who solemnly added that Peyton Sullivan left the game with a possible shoulder injury.
“We’re praying for him.”
Spring Creek (0-2 overall) seeks to snap a 17-game skid when former Carolina 1A rival Union visits next Friday. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
H — Corbett 24 FG
H — Corbett 29 run (Armwood run)
Second Quarter
SC — Chambers 97 pass from Deal (Deal run)
H — Thompson 33 pass from Corbett (Aguilar run)
SC — Chambers 60 pass from Deal (11 run)
H — Aguilar 23 run (Corbett kick)
Third Quarter
SC — Chambers 15 pass from Deal (run failed)
H — Cowell 95 pass from Corbett (Corbett kick)
H — Corbett 3 run (run failed)
Fourth Quarter
H — Corbett 35 run (kick failed)
H — McMillan 65 interception return (Corbett kick)
SC — Deal 6 run (run failed)
H — Thompson 17 run (Corbett kick)
