Eupora’s brutal non-division schedule didn’t get any easier last week as they took on unbeaten Houston. The Hilltoppers held Eupora to just 16 yards of total offense and took a 25-0 win over the Eagles on Friday night.
Eupora falls to 1-4 on the season with the loss and will take on unbeaten Pisgah this week.
Despite the final score, Eupora coach Stephen Edwards said his team fought hard all night.
“I thought they were the best team that we have played so far,” Edwards said. “They do a good job on defense and we knew they were going to present some problems for us. I thought we fought hard to the end. It was good to see some seniors step and play to the end. I thought we never game and kept on fighting. As long as they do that, everything else will take care of itself.”
The Eagles got a big special teams play to start the game when Deunte Watson blocked the Houston punt. But Eupora was unable to move the ball and forced to punt.
Houston first score came early in the second quarter when the Hilltoppers scored on. 5-yard run. The PAT failed and Houston led 6-0.
Disaster then struck for Eupora when Cade Atkins threw an interception that Jylon Davidson returned 52 yards a touchdown. The PAT was good and Houston led 13-0 at the half.
“We’ve just to keep on working to find the best combination of players,” Edwards said. “As long as they are playing hard, everything is going to be OK. If you get better every week, good things are eventually going to happen. Right now, the car is in the ditch and we need everyone pushing on that car to get it out.”
Houston’s first score of the second half came on a short field when Zak Morris muffed a punt. Houston then went 25 yards on five plays, scoring a 9-yard run to make the score 19-0.
Houston’s last score came midway through the fourth as the Hilltoppers went 74 yards in seven plays and scored on a 9-yard run.
Eupora struggled on offense with just 18 yards passing and minus two yards rushing. Zak Morris had three catches for 18 yards.
On defense, Deunte Watson led the Eagles with 12 tackles, including two for a loss. Morris had seven tackles while M.J. Thomas, Sammie Bowie and Quintavis Morris each had five tackles apiece.
“I thought defensively, we played pretty good most of the game,” Edwards said. “We fit good and ran to the football. We basically gave them two scores. They are a good running football team and we held them pretty good. I can’t complain about the way we played on defense.”
Houston ended up with 226 yards of total offense with 71 passing and 155 rushing. Bobby Townsend led Houston with 78 yards on 12 carries.
