Published: November 08, 2009 11:59 am      

Victory smells sweet to Rose

With players banged up and an already guaranteed spot in the playoffs, it wasn’t clear how important this game was to Coach Bill E. Williams and his Hartshorne Miners.

By the end of the 49-7 rout of the Antlers Bearcats Friday night, it was clear the only thing that mattered to the Miners was victory. And victory they achieved.

Antlers’s arrival would mark the last home game of the season for the Miners. Hartshorne fought to stay undefeated at home in front of a proud crowd.

It was also a landmark game for the Miners because it would be the first game of the season that starting senior quarterback Ross Rose would start and finish a game. Rose suffered a serious leg injury in the season opener against Vian High School. Coach Williams said during the game, “This guy (Rose) is one of the best quarterbacks I’ve ever coached.” His return was heavily anticipated after he threw for two touchdowns in the first quarter of the Miners’ season before breaking his leg and sitting out seven games.

The game started with Austin Kirkes returning the opening kickoff to his own 36-yard-line. Executing a balanced offensive attack, the Miners scored on a four-yard punch-it-in running play by CJ Nelson from four yards out. Nelson was forced to carry senior defensive lineman Ron Potter of the Bearcats into the endzone for the score.

Thanks to solo tackles from Dwayne Terry, Kenneth Simpson and Austin Kirkes, the Bearcats possession didn’t last long. Even though Kirkes has played just about every position for the Miners this year, he said after the game, “I like playing safety on defense. Because I like to hit people.”

CJ Nelson scored the second touchdown of the night as well, with another rushing play, this time from 43 yards away.

Colton Maynard led a bruising, up-the-gut rushing attack for the Bearcats’ that gained two first downs on the next possession. However, on the next pass play, Kirkes returned an interception eighty yards behind way-paving blocks from Jonathan Franklin. Eighty yards was enough for another Hartshorne score.

The loudest collision of the night came on the following kickoff. Austin Wilson came barrelling into the return man and launched punt-returning Chad Adams of the Bearcats. Adams showed true grit in holding on to the ball.

Defensively, the Hartshorne Miners were stoked to have Kenneth Simpson back this week after he missed the last game in Spiro. Simpson was a wrecking ball that punched holes through the offensive line of the Bearcats.

Another offensive possession for the Miners had Nelson receiving a seemingly laser-guided pass from Rose that the back was able to take 60 yards, just a yard short of the endzone. With time in the second half running out, the Miners ran a hurry-up offense and gave the sophomore Austin Kirkes two chances to punch it in. On the second attempt, with less than two seconds remaining in the half, he succeeded.

Hartshorne would end the first half 28-0, having scored 21 in the second quarter.

The second half was a similarly one-sided affair as the Miners romped for another three touchdowns. Rose found CJ again for a 54-yard touchdown. The last two touchdowns were both to Collins and 49 points was where Hartshorne finished. Antlers’ Maynard did find pay dirt in the final minute of the game, preventing the shutout. The final score: 49-7.

Rose said, “It feels pretty good to be on the field for a win. I’ve been waiting nine weeks for this, to be able to start and finish a game and I really wanted to win this one.”

CJ Nelson commented on his multi-touchdown game, “I felt like I had to have a big game with Beggs coming up in the first round. Also, I felt like I owed it to Ross because he’s been waiting so long for this opportunity.”

On his quarterback, Collins had this to say: “I know with Ross in, he wants to pass it. And I know if the ball’s coming to me, it’s going to be on-target.”

And on his coach he said, “Coach Williams is good for us. He’s real rough on himself, but he’s the best coach I’ve seen in Hartshorne.”

Kirkes added on about the Miners’ coaching staff, “They do whatever it takes to put us in position to win. They are always there for us. Whatever we need.”

Kenneth Simspon also expressed what he liked the best about Coach Williams, “His craziness. I love him to death because of his love for the game and for his players.”

The playoff-bound team will now turn its sights on the Beggs Golden Demons and prepare for that Fri, Nov. 13 playoff matchup.

Contact Jayson Knight at jknight@mcalesternews.com