Darrenger Fluharty (#38) runs the ball
Photos courtesy of Patty Haught)
By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Randy Fluharty scored five touchdowns and rushed for 267 yards to lead Calhoun County to a 57-20 thrashing of Gilmer County Friday night in the season-opening game for both teams at Mount Zion.
Fluharty, an all-state player as a junior last season and the leading ground gainer and scorer back from last year, had touchdown runs of 60, 16, 14, 11 and one yard despite only playing about two and one-half quarters before being pulled with the rest of the Red Devil starters.
He was supported by his brother, sophomore Darrenger Fluharty who had 156 yards on 16 carries before also being pulled before the end of the third quarter.
Zach Moore had a 34-yard touchdown run and teamed up with Dillon Mefford for a 14-yard score while Nathan Cosgrove added an 18-yard touchdown to account for the scoring. Moore was good on five of six extra point kicks while Randy Fluharty and Daniel Sims added extra point conversions.
Randy Fluharty (#7) breaks free for a long touchdown run
Ben Laughlin (#11) hands the ball to #23
Overall the Red Devils dominated offensively with 27 first downs and 566 yards rushing to go with 14 passing for 580 yards total offense.
Calhoun started slowly but took a 7-0 lead with 4:46 remaining in the first quarter. It pushed it out to 14-0 early in the second quarter only to have Gilmer totally abandon the running game and go with an aerial bombardment that brought them a touchdown on a 14-yard to Joe Roberts midway through the second period making it 14-6.
But that was the high water mark for Gilmer as Calhoun reeled off the next 43 points.
The Red Devils (1-0) scored twice more in the first half to make it 28-6 at intermission then reeled off 29 more points in the third quarter as coach Doyle Hupp pulled his starters with about four minutes remaining in the period and a 49-6 lead. The second unit added another touchdown near the end of the period to make it 57-6.
After that Gilmer (0-1) scored a couple of touchdowns against a mostly-freshman Calhoun lineup to set the final tally.
Calhoun will play host to Ritchie County (0-1) next Friday while Gilmer is home to South Harrison (1-0)
Zach Moore (#4) looks for an open man
Band member Danielle Richards and the Red Devil Cheerleaders
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