COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — Kharim Hughley passed for a career-high 365 yards and 4 TDs to lead Gainesville to a 41-7 rout of Westlake on Friday in another huge road test to open the season.
Hughley set the tone early with a 40-yard bomb to Taz Smith, and then he connected on a 52-yard catch-and-run by Shane King, who dragged and shook off several defenders before eventually outracing the rest of the Lions defense to the end zone for a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
Hughley would connect with Jeremiah Ware in the second half on a pair of scores as Big Red (3-0) blew it open.
Smith finished with six catches for 126 yards, and Ware had six catches for 103 yards for Gainesville. King had four receptions for 76 yards.
Carmelo Byrd was not able to get his third consecutive 100-yard game to open the season but did pound out 74 yards and 1 TD on 15 carries for the game.
Gainesville ran its regular season unbeaten streak under Josh Niblett to 23 straight. The Red Elephants are off next week before traveling to Class 6A No. 1-ranked Carrollton on Sept. 13.
