Daeshaun Hurley leads Julian past Robeson

Updated: October 20, 2011 10:32PM

Anyone wondering how much difference one person can make on a football field found out Thursday night at Lane.

DaeShaun Hurley missed Julian’s season opener vs. Robeson because of an eligibility dispute and the Jaguars lost by 20 points. With Hurley at quarterback and in the defensive backfield Thursday, Julian opened a 28-point lead and coasted home with a 28-14 win in the first round of the Public League playoffs.

Hurley ran 91 yards for one touchdown and passed for another as Julian (6-3) improved to 4-0 since his return and clinched an IHSA playoff berth.

“He’s been the difference maker since he’s been back,” Julian coach Jason Richardson said. “I’m speechless the way he played before he came out of the game.”

The scary thing is, Hurley still doesn’t feel like he’s clicking yet. “I’m just trying to work myself back to game shape and game speed,” he said.

On the long touchdown run, which put Julian up 14-0 with 9:58 left in the third quarter, he said, “I felt like I could be moving a lot faster.”

Hurley’s one-yard touchdown pass to Martrell Travis with 8:02 left in the second quarter was the only score of the first half. He also had a 74-yard touchdown run called back because of an illegal block in the third quarter and finished with 194 yards on 11 carries. The senior also was 5 of 10 passing for 49 yards.

Julian also got a seven-yard touchdown run from Samuel Carter and a six-yard scoring pass from backup quarterback Steven Reese to Travis.

Robeson (6-3) scored twice in the final 90 seconds, on a one-yard run by Mario Dunlap and a 19-yard pass from Donte Davis to Brian McQqddim.

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