Rested, not rusty: Summit cruises in first-round win

SM-Tn Sports

SPRING HILL — Third-ranked Summit showed no signs of rust despite playing for just the second time in 41 days.

The Spartans scored early and often in their 42-6 win over Hillwood in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs Friday.

“The guys played great,” said Summit coach Brian Coleman. “They are a great group of kids and they were hungry. They didn’t like not playing.”

With the win, Summit (10-1) earns the right to host Columbia (6-5), which outlasted host Gallatin 21-14 in triple overtime, in next week’s second round. The Spartans defeated the Lions 35-0 in their regular-season matchup on Sept. 4 in Columbia.

“We beat them once this year,” Coleman said. “It’s always tough to beat someone twice in one season.”

Summit amassed 401 yards of offense, highlighted by 316 yards rushing. Mr. Football semifinalist Destin Wade completed 5-of-8 passes for 85 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 44 rushing yards and a score.

Summit rolled up 316 yards on the ground, including 68 from John Dippold, in a 42-6 win over Hillwood in the state playoffs on Friday, November 6. (Photo by Ric Beu / SM-Tn Sports)

Brandon King rushed for a game-high 82 yards, while John Dippold, Zac Switzer and Sam Kerouac supplied 68, 62 and 46 yards, respectively. 

“The offensive line blocked well,” Coleman said. “The running backs are getting healthy finally and running the ball hard.”

The Spartans wasted little time seizing control against the Hilltoppers marching 70 yards in six plays with Wade scoring on an 8-yard run to make 6-0.

“It was important to establish some physicality there,” Coleman said. “That’s important if you want to make a deep run in the playoffs.”

Summit stretched its lead to 14-0 when Dippold scored on a 5-yard run before Wade added the 2-point conversion run.

The Spartans blew the game open in the second quarter with 28 points, including 21 points in the final 3:39 of the half.

Wade threw all three of his touchdown passes in the second quarter, the first of which came on a 15-yard strike to Brady Pierce. Graham Schneider reeled in a 16-yard touchdown pass before Pierce scored again on 39-yard pass.

Summit’s final score came from its defense as Caleb Jolley intercepted a Cam Davis pass and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown and a 42-0 halftime lead.

Hillwood’s lone touchdown came on a 22-yard pass from Davis to Avion Brown. Davis completed 20-of-28 passes for 160 yards, while Brown had a game-high nine receptions for 67 yards.

“We were really trying to get off to a good start,” said Coleman. “We wanted to knock some of the rust off. We used that as a battle cry for the guys this to motivate the guys.”

Summit 42, Hillwood 6
at Spartan Stadium

H 0 0 6 0 — 6
S 14 28 0 0 — 42

Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER
S — Destin Wade 8 run (10:26) kick failed
S — John Dippold 5 run (5:51) Wade run
SECOND QUARTER
S — Brady Pierce 15 pass from Wade (7:40) Ryan Crane kick
S — Graham Schneider 16 pass from Wade (3:39) Crane kick
S — Pierce 39 pass from Wade (1:13) Crane kick
S — Caleb Jolley interception return (1:02) Crane kick
THIRD QUARTER
H — Avion Brown 22 pass from Cam Davis (1:01) Carlos Montes kick
TEAM STATISTICSHS
First Downs1022
Rushes-Yards15-139-316
Passing Yards16085
Comps-Atts-Ints20-28-15-8-0
Penalties-Yards4-459-65
Fumbles-Lost4-02-1

Individual Statistics

RUSHING
Hillwood — Stephen McLaren 8-5, Jaden Sparks 4-4, Avion Brown 1-0, Cam Davis 2-(-8)
Summit — Brandon King 9-82, John Dippold 11-68, Zac Switzer 6-62, Sam Kerouac 6-46, Destin Wade 3-44, Brady Pierce 1-7, Nihal Kuna 1-7, Konata Werts 2-0
PASSING
Hillwood — Cam Davis 20-28-1 160
Summit — Destin Wade 5-8-0 85
RECEIVING
Hillwood — Avion Brown 9-67, Stephen McLaren 5-31, Gaige Robinson 2-28, Jaquan Mosley 3-19, McAlens LeGrand 1-15
Summit — Brady Pierce 2-54, Graham Schneider 1-16, Caleb Jolley 1-11, Zac Switzer 1-4

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