Sonoraville runs away from Murray County

Published 11:44 pm Friday, September 21, 2018

CHATSWORTH — Murray County High School kept it close for the first quarter, but Sonoraville High School scored 35 points in the second quarter and breezed to a 61-18 road victory on Friday night.

The win moves Sonoraville to 2-2, 1-1 in Region 6-3A, and the loss drops Murray County to 0-5, 0-3 in Region 6-3A.

“We were able to spread it out offensively and create space on the perimeter and that worked out well for us tonight,” Sonoraville head coach Denver Pate said.

Murray County was unable to slow down the Sonoraville passing game as sophomore quarterback Cole Godfrey finished 12-for-16 passing for 243 yards and four touchdowns. All four of the scores were to junior wide receiver Ben Burns, who finished the game with six receptions for 175 yards.

“We switched our offensive line up a little bit this week and threw the ball a little more than we had been throwing it,” Burns said. “I’ve never had a game like that though.”

The teams traded punts on the opening possessions, and with 6:03 left in the first quarter Sonoraville took over on its own 16-yard line. After a short run on first down, the Godfrey to Burns show began. Godfrey connected with Burns down the left sideline for an 83-yard score and after a failed extra point Sonoraville led 6-0.

Murray County, which fumbled the ball three times in the first half and lost two, fumbled the ball on a punt attempt on its next possession. Sonoraville marched 49 yards in four plays with Colton Richards finishing the drive with a two-yard touchdown run. The extra point made it 13-0.

Murray County responded on the following play, however, when Cade Petty took a pitch to the left down the home sideline 72 yards to the Sonoraville 13-yard line. Kaleb Jones found tight end Brannon Nuckolls for a 13-yard touchdown on the following play and the Indians cut the score to 13-7. Jones finished the game 24-for-37 passing for 202 yards with two touchdowns. Nuckolls had six receptions for 66 yards.

After another one of Burns’ touchdowns along with a 37-yard touchdown run by Kobe McEntyre, Murray County trailed 27-7. On the ensuing possession the Indians drove 72 yards in 10 plays and finished with Jones finding Brayden Johnson on a fade route to the corner of the end zone. The Indians went for and converted the two-point attempt, and momentum seemed to be shifting to the home team.

The momentum was short-lived, however, as Sonoraville scored 21 unanswered points and entered halftime with a 41-15 lead. Sonoraville out-gained Murray County 290 to 198 in total yards in the first half.

Sonoraville finished the game sacking Jones five times and Murray County totaled four turnovers. Burns added his fourth and final touchdown on a 34-yard reception with 3:52 left in the third quarter, before Elber Romero added a 24-yard field goal for the final scoring play for Murray County.

“Ben (Burns) has a ton of potential,” Pate said. “He’s coming off a knee injury, and just getting over that mentally was key for him. I think tonight you were able to see what he’s capable of doing.”

Sonoraville will host Ringgold next week while Murray County will travel to North Murray on Friday.