PREP FOOTBALL: John Hardin cruises to 56-15 district win (9/27)

By CHUCK JONES cjones@thenewsenterprise.com LOUISVILLE — The John Hardin Bulldogs had another easy day at the office Friday night. The Bulldogs raced out to a 28-0 lead and led 49-7 at halftime for the second consecutive week en route to a 56-15 pounding of the homestanding Louisville Waggener Wildcats in a Class 5-A, District 3 game. The Bulldogs – ranked second in the latest Associated Press Class 5-A poll — racked up 446 yards of total offense and scored on seven of their first eight possessions. No John Hardin running back had more than three carries. Sophomore halfback Landon Savoy gained 96 yards on two attempts. Senior running back Elias Camper gained 70 yards on three tries and caught two passes for 20 yards. He scored two touchdowns. Senior wideout Tim Marcum was the offensive spark plug, catching four passes for 92 yards and two scores. He also had a 74-yard touchdown run on a fake punt. Sophomore quarterback Alex Dingle completed 6-of-9 passes for 112 yards and three touchdowns. The Bulldogs (5-0 overall, 1-0 in district) took a 7-0 lead without their offense stepping on the field as senior Cameron Parker returned a punt 46 yards for a touchdown. Sophomore Alik Rucker scored on a 35-yard run on his only carry, Camper took a screen pass from Dingle 23 yards to the end zone, and after an interception by junior Michael Bowman, Marcum caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Dingle to build a 28-0 lead 23 seconds into the second quarter. After Waggener scored on its ensuing touchdown, John Hardin reeled off 21 points to stretch the lead to 49-7 at halftime. For the second straight week, John Hardin’s starters took the second half off. The game was delayed more than 20 minutes in the third quarter when Waggener senior lineman Stephen Strickland sustained what appeared to be a neck injury. Strickland gave a thumbs-up gesture when he was being wheeled off on a stretcher. On the first play from scrimmage after the injury, Savoy scampered 70 yards for a score to start a running clock, which runs continuously once a team is ahead by 45 or more points. UP NEXT: John Hardin hosts North Hardin (2-3) at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Chuck Jones can be reached at 505-1759