Oquendo's Three TDs Lead Stone Memorial Past Hixson

Panthers Advance With 34-14 Win Over Wildcats

Friday, November 3, 2023
John Hunt

The Stone Memorial Panthers entered Hixson’s Anthony S. Martino Field Friday night for the first round of the TSSAA Class 4-A football playoffs on a three-game losing streak, but that certainly didn’t have any bearing on the outcome.

For the second straight year, those Panthers ended Hixson’s season by a 34-14 final as they scored the first four times they had the ball and built a 27-14 lead before shifting into cruise control for the second half.

The Panthers are now 7-4 and will now face the unbeaten Upperman Bees while Hixson’s record ends at 7-4.

Stone Memorial coach Derik Samber walked the sideline in shorts and didn’t seem to be bothered at all by the cooler temperatures as he was fired up and ready to go before the game began. It appears that his team was also sitting on ready at the start.

“I couldn’t be any more proud of this group as they came out ready to play. We came in on a three-game losing streak to teams with a combined record of 29-1, but we didn’t hang our heads as we won our second playoff game in two years,” he began his post-game comments.

“Our kids responded well and I was really proud of our defense as Hixson has speed to burn and we did a pretty good job of shutting them down,” he continued, knowing that the Wildcats were limited to just 140 total yards.

“I really liked how we got off to a fast start and scored touchdowns in our first four possessions, but it’s always good to get off on the right track in post-season football,” he added.

Hixson coach Nick Rivers had tears running down his cheeks after his team’s season ended, but he is proud of the progress they made and he just hopes his kids will use Friday’s loss as inspiration for working harder with hopes of doing better next fall.

“We played our hearts out from the first snap until the last and we just need to hold our heads up,” he began.

“We didn’t get off to a good start and I’ll take the blame for that, but we just have to keep getting better,” he added.

Perhaps the worst news of the evening involved both teams as both starting quarterbacks got hurt within seven plays of each other.

Stone’s Nick Osmun, who completed 11 of 14 passes in the first half for 103 yards and also gained 48 yards on 10 rushing attempts, suffered a sprained ankle after getting sacked by Adam Billingsly while Hixson’s Chase Barnard took a viscious hit seven plays later and was taken to a local medical facility at halftime with a possible concussion.

Osmun hooked up with Chris Hannah on a 10-yard touchdown with 7:33 left in the opening quarter before hooking up with Maddox Oquendo on a 12-yard TD pass at the 6:01 mark following an interception by Cody Parker.

Hixson senior Michael “K.K.” Kendricks scored the first of two touchdowns at the 2:06 mark and the difference was 13-7 when the first quarter ended.

Osmun then tossed his third TD pass on a three-yard completion to Jayden Eldridge with 7:46 before halftime while Oquendo raced 62 yards for his second TD with 4:47 left.

Kendricks scored his second TD on a blast from the 1 with 24.4 seconds showing as the halftime difference was 27-14.

Oquendo won another foot race to the end zone – this time from 55 yards out – as the Panthers scored their final TD with six minutes remaining.

Stone Memorial finished with 387 total yards, including 284 on the ground and 103 through the air. Hixson only had 140 yards for the game with 116 on the ground and 24 through the air.

Oquendo was the leading rusher for the Panthers with 165 yards on just 13 carries while Eldridge was the leading receiver with five catches for 39 yards. Oquendo also had two catches for 31 yards, including the 12-yard TD.

Kendricks was the leading rusher for Hixson as he finished with 120 yards on 28 carries, including 75 in the first half on 19 attempts. Tariq Reese was Hixson’s leading receiver with 23 yards on three catches.

STONE MEMORIAL 13 14 0 7 -- 34

HIXSON 7 7 0 0 -- 14

SM – Chris Hannah 10 pass from Nick Osmun (Tony Mauricio Ramos kick), 7:33 left in first;

SM – Maddox Oquendo 12 pass from Osmun (kick failed), 6:01 left in first;

HIX – K.K. Kendricks 1 run (Isaac Smith kick), 2:06 left in first;

SM – Jayden Eldridge 3 pass from Osmun (Eldridge pass from Osmun), 7:46 left in second;

SM – Oquendo 62 run (kick failed), 4:47 left in second;

HIX – Kendricks 1 run (Smith kick), 0:24.4 left in second;

SM – Oquendo 55 run (Ramos kick), 5:48 left in fourth.

TEAM STATS: STONE MEMORIAL HIXSON

FIRST DOWNS 19 11

RUSHES-YARDS 41-284 37-116