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Browse by City/ StateGallatin grinds out a win over Hillsboro
GALLATIN -- Gallatin junior tailback Maurice Box had just three carries in last week's win over Mt. Juliet.
On Friday, the Green Wave went with a steady dose of Box in their 21-2 victory over Hillsboro.
Box carried 24 times for 156 yards as Gallatin controlled time of possession.
"It feels good -- especially to help the team out," said Box, who didn't reach the end zone but kept Gallatin's offense moving downfield in time-eating possessions. "The line did a good job pushing up front, and they need to keep doing that."
Gallatin (2-1) shut down the Hillsboro passing game, limiting quarterback Amiri Hawkins to 7-of-19 for 50 yards and three interceptions.
"The coaches did a good job preparing us for that," Gallatin defensive back Denzell Armstrong said. "We worked on that all week, and the coaches got us ready. We knew our defense had to step up and win a game."
Gallatin held Hillsboro to three-and-out on the first two possessions, then countered by scoring on two of its first three drives.
Tremaine Smith's 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Walter Spears capped an 11-play first drive for Gallatin.
Hillsboro threatened on its third possession, reaching Gallatin's 31, but Ibriham Joaque's interception set up a 12-play, 81-yard drive for the Green Wave, capped by an 18-yard scoring run by Darian Banks on fourth-and-2.
The lead remained 14-0 until early in the fourth quarter when the Green Wave had a punt blocked for a safety.
Smith's interception and 14-yard return late sealed the win for Gallatin.
"We changed our practices this week (in preparation for the Burros' short passing game)," Gallatin Coach Robert Lassiter said. "We must have gotten in 120 passes against our defense. I thought we did a good job being physical up front, and that slowed them down."
Hillsboro (2-2), which had two shutout victories entering the game (including a win last week over Ravenwood) was limited to 191 yards of offense. Morris Williams led the Burros with 57 yards on six carries.
"Penalties hurt us," Hillsboro Coach Dennis Moreno said. "This is a tough place to win. You have to be much better than they are to win here. But, we fought until the end. They defended the short passes well."
