Hickory runs over SR
SLIPPERY ROCK — There was no stopping Marlon Pegues.
Hickory's senior running back rushed for five touchdowns to lead the Hornets to a 45-7 victory over the Slippery Rock High football team Friday night.
After Pegues scored a 35-yard touchdown 24 seconds into the game, the Rockets answered on their first possession when John McAvoy scored from 6 yards out.
But the tie was short-lived.
Pegues scored his second touchdown four seconds into the second quarter and the Hornets held a 13-7 lead at the half.
Slippery Rock football coach Brendan Hathaway said his team played well in the first half and is able to stick with most teams in the first two quarters.
"We always contend in the first half of games," Hathaway said. "We can compete with any team in the league in the first half, and we were hoping for a good result tonight."
The Rockets' six-point deficit to start the second half climbed higher when Pegues scored his third TD of the game, this time from 79 yards, on a run that included broken tackles and pure speed to finish the play.
Pegues credited his offensive linemen for aiding his 291-yard performance.
"It's a team thing," he said. "We played as a team out there tonight and my offensive line kept opening up holes for me all night."
After sophomore running back Michael Palumbo gave Hickory a 26-7 lead, Pegues was back at it with another long run. This, his fourth of the night, was a 50-yard jaunt that displayed his breakaway speed.
Slippery Rock (0-7) was unable to find an answer for Pegues and the Hornets, but Hathaway said he was proud of his team's effort and took the blame for the second-half performance.
"Our kids gave everything they can out there and we just weren't able to keep it going in the second half," Hathaway said.
After the Hornets (5-2) put the game out of reach in the third quarter, Pegues added his final touchdown with a 76 yard run on his 19th and final carry of the night.
