Kick return, late push, 4 Cutcher TDs propel HVA
NEWPORT — Four touchdown carries from senior running back Kaden Cutcher — three coming in the fourth quarter when Hardin Valley Academy began to dominate Cocke County — helped the Hawks overcome an 8-7 halftime deficit to win going away, 37-15, Friday night, Sept. 6.
It was HVA’s first win of 2024 (1-2).
“I was just proud of our guys and the way they competed, and that’s what we asked them to do, and get a little bit better,” said HVA head coach Tyler Wynn, who picked up his first coaching victory with the Hawks.
“We’ve been here for six months just trying to get things going in the right direction, and for them to finally get a taste of success, that was big. … We feel like we’re getting a little bit better every week.”
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Cutcher ended with 190 yards on just 20 carries and the four TDs.
“I think Kaden is going to get his accolades,” Wynn said. “… Had a huge game.
“But we also had another back with 75 yards rushing (senior Ryder Dozier),” he added. “That says a lot about our offensive linemen. Two guys who really stood out for me on Friday were (senior) Neal Henley, and a sophomore, Nathan Artrip, two undersized guards who really played above their head.
“Then we also had two defensive guys that stepped over and had to play some offense. Just personnel-wise, (senior linebacker) Nathan Holbrook and (senior defensive end) Michael Stewart Jr., getting those guys over on the offensive side helped to really spearhead some things in our run game.”
Slow start
The homesteading Cocks (0-3) converted two fake punts into first downs in the first half, one leading to the game’s first touchdown.
“We weren’t able in the first half to get our footing,” Wynn said. “I feel like we had some stuff that was there, but we were just slight missing on stuff.”
Though beginning the seconds half down 8-7, “We continued with what we were doing because we trust it,” the coach added. “We trust our guys to go make some plays.”
Kickoff TD swings ‘mo’
Things changed dramatically in the game’s final 13 minutes behind Cutcher, a stout Hawks defense and the play that gave the visitors a lead it wouldn’t relinquish: a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from sophomore Nicolas Rivers with just 28 seconds left in the third quarter.
“We tell our guys all the time, a touchdown on special teams — if you can score on special teams, your chances of winning go up drastically,” Wynn said.
“That swung the momentum back our way,” he added. “I think our guys played a lot more aggressive after that.”
In fact, “… I felt like we were a little bit passive waiting for stuff to happen up until that point,” Wynn said.
