The Hawks extended their winning streak to five games and got past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2008 after a 27-0 win against the LD Bell Raiders in the first ever playoff game at the Woodshed.

Senior running back Treyvon Hughes had another game of more than 100 rushing yards and averaged more than five yards a carry. His nine-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter put the Hawks up 24-0 and all but sealed the win in front of a raucous home crowd. Senior receiver and safety Jamal Adams scored on the first play from scrimmage as he caught a pass from senior quarterback Carson Proffitt and scampered 44 yards for the first touchdown of the game. Adams and the cornerback who was defending him both had hands on the pass, but Adams strength allowed him to rip the ball away from the defender and score the touchdown that set the tone for the game right from the beginning. Except for the lone touchdown connection between Proffitt and Adams, the passing game was non-existent as Proffitt attempted six other passes the rest of the game, completing only one. Even though the rushing attack led by Hughes was good enough for the Hawks to win the game, the team will have to have a more balanced offensive onslaught if they want to advance deep into the playoffs.

While the offense was sluggish most of the game, the defense was sharp and alert, not giving up a single point throughout the entire game and forcing five turnovers in the process. Inside linebackers Gavin Burford and Clay Holford each had 11 total tackles, with Holford having two tackles for a loss. Junior outside linebacker Angelo Garbutt had another big game that included eight total tackles, a sack, and a blocked punt. The unit that deserves the most recognition, however, was the secondary. Senior defensive backs David Akere, Jamal Adams, and Cedric Dale each had an interception, with Akere returning his 30 yards for a touchdown. Adams’ interception came right after a controversial pass interference penalty that was called against him, which stopped a Raider drive and further discouraged the LD Bell offense. This defensive performance marked the fifth time this season that the Hawks have kept a team under 20 points and the first time that they shut out an opponent.

The Hawks have a tough game against the Cedar Hill Longhorns on Saturday at AT&T Stadium. The Longhorns are ranked fifth in the state and are a well-rounded team on both offense and defense. However, Cedar Hill barely beat the mediocre Temple Wildcats in their bi-district playoff game on Saturday. The Longhorns trailed 28-7 at halftime, but outscored the Wildcats 32-7 in the second half to win the game 39-35. With Cedar Hill’s only losses to powerhouses DeSoto and Allen, the Hawks’ will have to play a near-perfect game if they want to come out with the victory. Cedar Hill made it to the Division II 5A championship last year, so they’re prepared for a deep playoff run this year. If the Hawks play at their best with minimal mistakes, then they have a great chance of beating the Longhorns at AT&T Stadium at 8 p.m. this Saturday.

Final Score: Hebron defeats LD Bell 27-0, advances to the area round of the playoffs and improves their record to 8-3 overall