Hornets, Jackets to answer questions

By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Nov. 22, 2002
Ever since Union beat Lake 27-20 on Sept. 13 at Union, much of the talk has centered around how the Hornets would have fared if junior running back Damion Gray had played. Or how Union would have done if 6-foot-4, 290-pound senior defensive tackle Darnell Temple had been available.
Those answers will be settled tonight when the two face off again. Only this time the stakes are much higher in the second round of the Class 1A state playoffs. Kickoff at Lake's Death Valley is set for 7 p.m. Union is 9-3, while Lake comes in 8-4.
Practicing for the playoffs is different than regular season preparation, Amis said.
Lake beat Dexter 14-0 last week with Gray's 11-yard touchdown run with 2:27 remaining clinching the win. For the game, Gray had 154 yards on 18 carries. He had long runs of 32 and 38 yards.
For the year, Gray leads the Hornets in scoring with 13 touchdowns. Tight end Willie Hickmon has eight, running back LaDonovan Towner has seven, and quarterback Joseph Hunt has four.
Hunt threw two touchdown passes in the first game with Union.
Union cruised to a 41-20 win over Enterprise-Lincoln last week. Sophomore running back Anthony Johnson scored three touchdowns in the first quarter as Union jumped out to a 21-0 lead.
Johnson leads Union and Region 3-1A in scoring with 21 touchdowns and five two-point conversions. He had two touchdown runs in the earlier win over Lake. Quarterback Quincy Patrick has rushed for 12 touchdowns. Wide receiver Derrick Harris has seven, while fullback Ray Harper and wide receiver Jordan Robinson have two apiece.
Both teams are suspect in the punting game. In fact, Lake turned a blocked punt into a touchdown by Justin Butler in the first meeting.
Lake holds a 12-10-1 lead in the series.