DEKALB — The Nashville Hornets’ bid for the first football championship in school history came up short Friday at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, as Newman Central Catholic won the 2A title 35-14.
Known primarily as a running team, the Comets hit two long passing touchdowns in the first half. In the second quarter, Jacob Ackman hit Connor McBride for a 64-yard score to give Newman CC a 14-0 lead. Then after Julian Metcalf scored on a nine yard run to cut it to 14-7, Ackman found McBride again for a 30-yard touchdown with one minute to go in the half to give the Comets a 21-7 lead.
McBride’s third touchdown came in the third quarter on a 24-yard run that give Newman CC a 28-7 lead.
The Hornets mounted a rally. Metcalf scored his second touchdown of the day on a 13-yard screen pass late in the third to cut it to 28-14.
Nashville then got a defensive stand to start the fourth, and you could start to feel the momentum swinging to the Hornets’ side. Brett Newman ended all of that, picking off Cole Malawy and taking it back 30 yards for the clinching score.
The Hornets were unable to overcome four turnovers on the day, as each either stopped potential scoring drives or led directly to Comets’ points.
The Hornets finish the season 12-2. It was Nashville’s second state title game appearance, first since 1998.