Hammond depth on display in opening rout

Updated: May 9, 2012 9:43AM

Hammond coach Eric Schreiber was excited about the 2011 season because his team has a vareity of offensive weapons that could be effective at any moment of a game.

During the Wildcats’ opener against East Chicago Central on Friday night, several of those weapons made their presence known.

Senior quarterback Paris Hutchinson scored two touchdowns and rushed for 85 yards, senior fullback LeMarcus Moore scored a touchdown and senior Michael Peavy ran for two touchdowns and caught a 39-yard pass for another as host Hammond rolled to a 37-14 victory over the Cardinals.

“We know that Paris is a force on the field,” Schreiber said. “He did a lot of good things on the field for us tonight and hit the mark on some big passes. And we know that we have more than one weapon to turn to. Some opportunities opened up for Peavy in the second half, and he took advantage of them.”

The Wildcats gained 204 yards on the ground and 92 yards in the air. But they were also guilty of 15 penalties for 162 yards.

“That’s an issue that will be addressed,” Schreiber said.

Hammond’s first drive from scrimmage was halted after seven plays, but the Wildcats received a second chance on the ensuing punt as Kierahn recovered a EC fumble at the Cardinals 27. From there, it took the Wildcats five plays to reach the end zone — as Moore ran for the first score from five yards out with 5:54 left in the first quarter.

The Wildcats extended their lead after stopping the Cardinals on their next drive, denying them on a fourth-and-eight at their 24-yard line. They scored on a nine-play drive, which was started by a 38-yard pass to Peavy and capped off with a 2-yard score by Hutchinson for a 13-0 lead with 10:56 left in the first half.

Hammond capitalized on another East Chicago miscue, as Shane Richard intercepted an Everett Coleman pass, which set up another Hutchinson score — this one from 8 yards out — two plays later. Peavy added another score toward the end of the third quarter on a 2-yard run.

The Wildcats added their next score at the beginning of the fourth quarter when sophomore Eric Schreiber connected with Peavy for a 39-yard score, capping off a seven play, 80-yard drive. The final score also came from Peavy on a 25-yard scamper with 7:18 to play in the game.

East Chicago’s first score came in the second quarter, as Everett Coleman ran in from eight yards out, capping off a nine-yard, 59-yard drive. The Cardinals other touchdown also came from Coleman on a one-yard burst with 9:16 left in the game, finishing a seven play, 65-yard drive.

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