The Chillicothe Hornets entered their Senior Night game on Friday hosting Odessa at 3-4 on the season. The Bulldogs, coming off a district championship last season were 4-3 and the home crowd on Pink Out Night was treated to an excellent football game.
Odessa scored first with a 36 yard field goal by Dalton Cates and the score was 3-0 at the end of the first quarter. After turning the ball over on downs on their first possession, the Hornets responded with a scoring drive of their own when Cooper Robinson scrambled for a 25 yard touchdown. Chillicothe controlled the clock and time of possession in the first half running 32 plays compared to just 17 for Odessa and the Hornets had a 6-3 halftime lead.
After both teams punted to open the 2nd half the Hornets came up with a big defensive play when Bulldogs quarterback Michael Scott was hit as he threw, Logan Murrell undercut the route and came up with an interception to prevent points from Odessa. Chillicothe then turned senior running back Silas Midgyett who scored on a 38 yard touchdown and followed it up with a 3 yard score to open the 4th quarter as the Hornets lead ballooned out at 20-3. Midgyett broke the school record for single game carries with 44. He totaled 260 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.
The Hornets defense kept the pressure on Scott and the Odessa offense, sacking the quarterback six times including three by Jaishon White. Following the Murrell interception, the next series Murrell forced a fumble that was recovered by Robinson. Following that drive Midgyett came up with a defensive play, intercepting a fake punt and returning it 47 yards inside the 5 yard line.
With less than two minutes to play Odessa found pay dirt on a 77 yard touchdown from Scott to Gabe Studdard, but Landon Bailey fell on the onside kick for Chillicothe to preserve the 20-10 victory.
The Hornets improve to 4-4 on the season with the win. Chillicothe will play their final regular season game next Friday at MEC opponent Benton.
