Taft can't hang with Hononegah

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:12PM

If you're going to pull off the upset on the road in the post season, certain things need to go your way. Nothing went the Eagles' way in Rockton on Saturday, as they were manhandled 50-7 by Hononegah in the first round of the class 7A playoffs.

The Indians only needed six plays to jump out to a 21-0 lead. On the second play of their opening drive, Carlos Hendrix (11 carries, 91 yards, TD, three catches, 47 receiving yards, TD) took a pitch and scampered 45 yards down the sideline completely untouched for the score.

On the second play of their next possession, Indians quarterback Chase Robinson (8-for-13, 167 yards, four TD, 10 carries, 66 yards, TD) connected with a wide open Ryan Masters (two catches, 108 yards, two TD) down the middle of the field for a 43-yard touchdown. The two hooked up again a few minutes later for a 65-yard touchdown completion.

Hononegah had 222 yards of total offense in the first quarter alone, while Taft had only 71 yards of total offense in the first half and as many turnovers, two, as first downs.

The one bright spot for the Eagles in the game was a 77-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Nick Alvarez that cut the Indian lead to 29-7.

"We did not play well," said Taft head coach Matt Walsh. "We came out real slow and you can't recover from 29-0. We put ourselves in bad positions all game."

Paul Urbanek had four receptions for 66 yards for the Eagles. Taft (7-3) quarterback Michael Shewchuk finished 9-for-24 for 137 yards.

Taft faced a similar one-sided loss team in the first round of the class 8A playoffs last season, losing 46-0 to Proviso West.

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