 |  | | | Tigers make it look easy, advance to 3A semifinals
| David Cordero •
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• Published: November 06. 2010 4:55AM
| HURRICANE -Those unacquainted with the circumstances surrounding Friday's Hurricane-Emery game might have thought it was an exhibition contest, a team of a higher classification against a smaller school, a team of might displaying its superiority against an over matched opponent.
It just seemed so easy.
The Tigers scored touchdowns on six of their first seven possessions and kept the Spartans off the scoreboard until midway through the fourth quarter as Hurricane rolled to a 42-13 triumph against visiting Emery in their 3A quarterfinal tilt.
The Tigers are one win away from reaching their third consecutive state championship game, in the process retiring their home field in style.
"Everything worked for us," said Hurricane coach Chris Homer. "We very easily could have looked past Emery to future games, but I don't think they did and I'm proud of that. Our kids are very determined to try to reach goals they have set for themselves."
The Tigers will play the winner of the Delta-Desert Hills tilt, which is set for today at 1 p.m. Should the Rabbits prevail, Hurricane will play them in the semifinals Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.
Should the underdog Thunder win, it could set up a whole different scenario. The game could be moved to Hansen Stadium.
Either way, the Tigers are happy to be moving on.
"I don't really mind which (team) we play," said Hurricane quarterback Adam Long, who completed 3-of-6 passes for 48 yards and a TD. "They're both strong teams, so either game will be good."
But will the game be competitive? Not if the Tigers come out like they did Friday night.
Hurricane rushed for 364 yards as four running backs tallied 59 yards or better. Trann Smith led the way with 130 yards on six carries, including two electrifying touchdowns.
The first was a 17-yard dart up the middle to put the Tigers on the scoreboard early in the first quarter. The second was a 70-yard sprint that left Emery's defenders in the dust and made it a 21-0 game.
"We sent our best running back in motion, which is Jarom (Healey), so they'd key on him and we'd run it to the inside - give it to the speed guy to go up the middle. It worked both times. "I think that play killed them. They couldn't stop it because we had great blocks down field."
Smith was asked if he was touched on those counter runs.
"No," he answered, with a smile. "They were big holes."
Healey, whose interception set up Smith's second touchdown, compiled 72 yards on seven carries. Brian Scott notched 74 yards on seven totes and Robert Reeve, recovering from a serious shoulder injury suffered early in the season, had 59 yards on three rushes, including a 54-yard dash down the left sideline for a score.
"He's probably not going to be full speed this year, but he's looking really good," said Homer of Reeve. "He's hitting holes and getting that high-knee run going."
Meanwhile, Emery's running game sputtered. The Spartans finished with 167 yards, but padded those stats late in the game. In the first half, which closed with Hurricane on top 28-0, Emery rushed for 65 yards on 22 carries.
"All week we wanted to make sure we were physical this game," said Tigers safety Taylor Parker, "and make sure we came out in the first quarter and just brought it to them."
Taylor Frost led Hurricane's defenders with seven tackles, followed by Obike Nkwocha, Eric Canfield and Parker with five stops apiece.
On the offensive side, Nate Barker had an 11-yard touchdown catch with 1:11 to go in the first half, and Parker - likely to be the team's quarterback next year - scored on a 4-yard keeper to make it 42-0 early in the fourth quarter.
Such a lopsided score in a quarterfinal game isn't the norm, but the Tigers got to that point by not playing down to their opponent's level.
"I have to say I thought Emery was going to be a little bit tougher," Smith said. "We just played them like they were the best team in the state."
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