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By TIM IRVING
“I think we relish the opportunity to be that team on everyone’s schedule that they wanna beat and hopefully, it brings out the best in us.”
Honeoye Falls-Lima football coach John Russ and his Cougars have a bullseye on their backs, starting defense of their 2020 Section V Class B title 3-0 after a 27-0 win over Wilson.
Balance has been the key, starting with some big offensive lines and big tailbacks to take advantage of the holes created. 6’2” senior Zac Meacham is the latest. After a scoreless first quarter, Meacham busted off a 13-yard touchdown run and a 7-0 lead.
The Cougars defense forced five turnovers and one of those led to first year quarterback Brody Young finding Colt Miller in the end zone for 28 yards and a 13-0 halftime lead for HF-L.
One touchdown in the third quarter and the Cougars’ defense got it as Donnell Hall picked off a Wildcats pass and returned it 23 yards.
From there, the ground game with both Meacham and Hall killed the clock.
“Being a big, strong kid like he is, if Zac hits the hole hard, guys are gonna bounce off of him, four or five yards is a good run and then break one when he can,” Russ said.
Meacham capped off a big night with another 13 yard score in the fourth to ice the victory. He finished with 16 carries for 200 yards.
The stats don’t belie how tough a game it was but here are some of them anyway. HF-L (2-0) had 20 first downs to Wilson’s 3 and totaled 381 yards to the Wildcats’ 81, a credit to the defense.
“Our secondary is all new guys, I graduated all four from last year, “ Russ said. “Both of our safeties had interceptions and one corner a pick six, so they’re coming along but it starts with the guys up front.”
The Cougars next face another 2-0 team at Wayne next Friday.
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