GAINESVILLE -- It's too bad "The Big Red Machine" has already been made famous by another team.
With the way it's currently playing, the nickname would be perfect for Gainesville football.
The fifth-ranked Red Elephants (5-1, 4-0 Region 8-AAAAA) looked like a well-oiled machine for much of Friday night's 51-6 destruction of Cedar Shoals in Gainesville.
The Red Elephants' Toddrick Turner intercepted Cedar Shoals on the game's opening drive -- and it took just one play for the Gainesville offense to respond with a score, quarterback Deshaun Watson hitting Rodney Lackey in stride for a 36-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead just 1:24 into the game.
It was the first of five touchdowns on the night for Watson, who went over 11,000 career passing yards on his second scoring strike -- a 33-yard completion to Jay Gaudlock that featured a nifty move by the receiver to reach the end zone for a 14-0 lead.
Not to be outdone, Watson called his own number on Gainesville's third possession and rumbled, juked and then sprinted his way for a 63-yard touchdown and a 21-0 advantage.
Watson finished the game with 295 yards passing, completing 23 of 28 attempts, to go along with 60 yards on the ground. It was part of a 532-yard peformance for the Red Elephants' offense, which also rushed for 183 yards -- including 108 yards and two touchdowns on the ground for Michael Byrd.
Gainesville's defense also did its part, holding the Jaguars (0-6, 0-4) to 190 yards, though running back Adrian Washington did put up 130 yards on 26 carries.
Cedar's pounding attack couldn't hold a candle to Gainesville's efficiency, however, which included six catches for 91 yards for Gaudlock. Chastin Newman also hauled in four passes for 79 yards, while Lackey finished with three catches for 74 yards.
The game also included a 41-yard field goal for Gage Turner just before halftime that helped the Red Elephants to a 30-0 lead at the interval.
Gainesville will play host to Salem next week.
Saturday
December 28th, 2024
10:54AM
