SONORAVILLE — Scoring three touchdowns on their first six offensive plays Friday night, Sonoraville won its second consecutive game with a 49-6 victory over Murray in Region 7-2A action at The Furnace in Sonoraville.
The contest looked like it was going to be a real back-and-forth with the way it started, as the Phoenix scored touchdowns on three straight plays in the first five minutes while the Indians’ first possession resulted in a one-play, 72-yard touchdown pass.
But after that rambunctious start, Murray couldn’t keep up the pace and the home team’s defense and offense took over to get the big win.
Sonoravile junior quarterback Chaz Pate threw touchdown passes to five different receivers and the Phoenix got touchdowns from their offense and special teams as well for the big win.
Sonoraville came out throwing, literally, and used a short field to score right away after taking the opening kickoff and starting the game with the ball at its own 42-yard-line.
First, it was an eight-yard pass to senior Cayman Reynolds and then a seven-yard pass to Braxen Mcmahan for the first down at the Indians’ 43. On the next play, Pate found junior wide receiver Langston Butler for a 43-yard hookup to take a 6-0 lead. Junior kicker Mateo Truijllo made the first of his seven consecutive PATs and the hosts were on top 7-0 just 78 seconds in.
The Indians would respond with their only touchdown of the night when on the first play after the Sonoraville kickoff, junior John Bickford got wide open behind the Phoenix defense and turned a pass completion into a 77-yard touchdown. But the Indians had a bad snap on the point-after try and the holder was tackled with no kick attempted, leaving it 7-6 with 10:12 still to play in the first quarter.
However, the home team would break things open with two touchdowns on their next three offensive snaps.
Pate connected with junior running back Braxen Mcmahan on a 57-yard catch-and-run for their second touchdown and the Phoenix were in front 14-7 with 9:51 still showing on the first quarter clock.
On the second play of the next drive, they went for the score and Pate and senior Caymen Reynolds connected for the 36-yard scoring pass that made it 21-6 with 7:19 to go in the first period.
The Phoenix’s fourth touchdown of the half came early in the second period when a Murray County fumble ended in a 55-yard scoop-and-score by Sonoraville junior linebacker Will Patterson, putting them up 28-6 with just over eight minutes left until halftime.
Midway through the second period, Sonoraville did start a drive late its own territory, but it didn’t matter much as the Phoenix went on an eight-play, 89-yard scoring drive that was capped by a 25-yard touchdown pass from Pate to Elijah Woods, giving them a 35-6 lead, which they would hold at halftime.
The Phoenix would add their final two scores in the first six minutes of the third period. Pate threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Evan Johnson for a 42-6 advantage with 8:30 left in the third.
Their final score came when sophomore Jason Hood returned Murray County’s next punt 62 yards for the touchdown.
The win elevated Sonoraville to 2-1 in Region 7-2A and the Phoenix will go to Rockmart next Friday night. The Yellow Jackets are 3-0 in the league after belting Coahulla Creek, 35-7 Friday. The Phoenix are 2-3 overall.
Murray County dropped to 0-4 in the Region and the Indians have an open date next week before they return to the field Friday, Oct. 4 when they go to North Cobb Christian.