Saturday’s weather had  tornado watches and warnings all over Southeast Georgia, but in Millen, it was a bigger storm that laid a path of destruction on the gridiron.
The Hinesville Hurricanes semi-professional football team pummeled the Tri-County Panthers, 26-0, in a downpour in their first game of their new spring season.
According to Hurricanes head coach James Sharp, his squad had only 13 players available. They played iron-man football, but delivered the victory.
The ’Canes struck in the first quarter when quarterback Tony Blocker gave the ball to Kendrick Badger, who ran in for a touchdown. The ’Canes didn’t convert the two-point attempt, but Badger came back in the second quarter to notch another touchdown run. Blocker converted for two and the ’Canes were up 14-0.
In the third quarter, Blocker played defense and got a pick, which he returned for a touchdown. Hurricane running back Joseph Matavao scored in the fourth for the ’Canes.
Badger finished the game with 135 yards rushing, while Matavao rushed for 108. Blocker had 42 yards. and Alfonzo Brewster added 25. James Sharp III ran for 12 yards.
James Sharp III’s sack of the Panther quarterback late in the fourth quarter helped to seal the Hurricanes win, the coach said.
On defense, Dan Wohlgemuth had 13 tackles and Robert Sweet had seven.
“We played an outstanding ball game,” coach Sharp said. “Coach Michael Jones and I know there are still plenty of details to work on offensively and defensively as the season continues. But we played as a team on Saturday. That is the one thing I love about this team — they play together and respect each other.”
This Saturday, the ‘Canes are on the road again taking on the Cobras in Augusta at 7 p.m.
The Hurricanes are in their 12th season. They won the Southeastern American Football League Championship in 2010. This year, they play in the amateur division of the United Football League.
In other semi-pro news, the Georgia Bombers fell to the Georgia Firebirds, 28-0, at Saturday’s home game at Richmond Hill. The Bombers next travel March 24 to Tampa.