Hatton caps first undefeated season with 35-9 Central-Florence thrashing

Oct. 30—CENTRAL HEIGHTS — Hatton cruised to its first undefeated regular season in school history with a 35-9 win over Central-Florence on Thursday.

"This just doesn't even feel real," Hatton coach Nikita Stover said. "It really doesn't."

With their starting quarterback Cade Parham out for the week, the Hornet running game racked up over 250 rushing yards and all five Hatton touchdowns.

The Hornet defense held Central to less than 200 yards of total offense for the game, while the offense pulled out to a 28-0 lead by halftime.

Central's lone touchdown came late in the fourth quarter when Hattom was already up 35-2.

"This is the most fun I've ever had playing a sport, honestly," Hatton senior Taegen Burleson said. "We're such a team. Obviously, winning's a factor, but us being so together as a team is what's contributed to our record."

It's been a historic year for the Hornets.

Not only did the Hornets finish a perfect regular season, but Hatton also secured its first region title in 26 years and locked down a home playoff game for the first time since 2002, against New Hope.

"I've been starting on varsity football since my ninth grade year," Burleson said. "It's been my dream to build this program up. I've known we always had a chance to do something like this."

Hatton has been on a tear all season, outscoring opponents 380-105.

After star running back Savarius Evans went out in Week 6, they still outscored teams 117-29.

The most points any team has scored on Hatton was 20 by Brooks in the first game of the season.

"Even after we lost our star player in Savarius, we still prevailed and went 10-0," Burleson said. "That means a lot to me."

Hatton started the game with three straight 11-yard rush touchdowns. Two from Taegen Burleson and another from Quenderius Bolding.

Bolding then rushed 21-yards for a touchdown to put Hatton up 28-0 at halftime.

With two minutes left in the third quarter, a missed snap sailed into Hatton's end zone to give Central-Florence a safety that cut the lead to 28-2.

In the third period, Hatton's Keyshawn Bowling scored on a six-yard rush. Then Central had a four-yard rushing touchdown to cap off scoring.

Next week, they'll start the Class 3A playoffs and have a chance to break a first-round curse that goes back to 2002.

The Hornets have made the postseason nine seasons since then, including the last six years straight, but fell in the first round every time.

Last season they were within two points as they fell to Madison Academy 19-20.

"Losing that game p***** us off," Stover said. "So, we came back motivated."

"We're coming in hot," Burleson said. "We're going to make it happen."