Hahnville’s Calvin Smith’s monster night lifted Hahnville to 2-1 this season and a District 8-5A opening win as HHS defeated visiting Terrebonne at Tiger Stadium Friday night.
Smith rushed for 207 yards and five touchdowns – the final two serving as back breakers in the fourth quarter as Hahnville put THS away, 51-32.
The win was one Hahnville players wanted for many reasons, not the least of which calling back to the final game of last season, where Terrebonne eliminated Hahnville from the playoff hunt with a 45-28 win, snapping a playoff streak of 23 years for Hahnville.
This time, Hahnville snapped what was an unbeaten streak for Terrebonne this season, as THS dropped to 3-1 (0-1 in District) with the loss.
“It was really big. They knocked us out of the playoffs last year … tonight, we did what we were supposed to do,” said Smith. “We had a few mistakes, but we came through and finished the game out .. everybody is dialed in. Everybody wants to be part of a team that wins. We’ve gotta keep working. A lot of good teams left on the schedule. We’ve gotta stay in the lab.”
Kobe Louis, who caught a touchdown pass from Landen Teague in the first half, concurred with his teammate.
“We had a big chip on our shoulder because last year they sent us home and put a lot of hurt on our seniors,” Louis said. “And we felt that. The juniors coming up, all week we locked in and stayed focused. We had to come out and get a win.”
Hahnville turned the game over to Smith late for the senior back to serve as closer. He was not satisfied with first downs.
“Well I was trying to get a first down, but this guy, he likes to score touchdowns,” quipped Hahnville head coach Greg Boyne, gesturing to Smith. “I was trying to just give it to him and kill the clock, get one first down, but he made 17 people miss, so we’ll take it.”
As far as Smith was concerned, the goal was simple.
“We had to make a statement,” Smith said.
Coming off Hahnville’s first loss of the season at E.D. White, Smith said he didn’t think he played near his best last week and he was determined to make a big impact this week.
“I had to come back and be better than ever, and show people what I’m about. And shout out to my offensive line – they’re the reason I can do what I can do,” Smith said.
HHS led 28-20 midway through the third quarter when Aaron Williams caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Landen Teague to extend Hahnville’s lead to 35-20. But Terrebonne scored to end the third quarter on an 83-yard yard touchdown run by Quincy Adams, but the extra point was no good, leaving Hahnville to lead by 9.
Smith capped Hahnville’s ensuing drive with a 35-yard touchdown run to make it 42-26. Terrebonne answered with a short touchdown run by Adams, but could not convert the two-pointer to make it a one-possession game.
Hahnville put things away when Smith raced for his second touchdown of the final quarter, this one a breakaway for 50 yards.
HHS recorded a safety to end the scoring – and the night, on the game’s final play.
The 51 points in a game was Hahnville’s most since Oct. 21, 2022 in a 51-7 win over H.L. Bourgeois.
“I felt like our offense was close to clicking and tonight, I would say, we clicked,” said Boyne. “These two guys (Smith and Louis) made the plays you want your seniors to make. The offensive line blocked the entire game. And that football team (Terrebonne) is a good football team. They’re physical, but we out physicaled them.
“These guys made plays when it mattered. One of our goals is defend our home field and to beat good teams. Tonight, we accomplished both.”
