The Hancock County Hornets took down the McLean County Cougars 21-0 on the road Friday night, largely thanks to a standout performance by wide receiver Hayden Shearn, who scored all three of Hancock’s touchdowns.
Shearn’s night started with a 42-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Dylan Morris with 2:32 left in the first quarter, giving the Hornets an early 7-0 lead. Despite an interception by McLean County early in the second quarter, the Cougars were unable to capitalize.
McLean’s Aiden Bolden appeared to score on a 67-yard run, but the play was called back due to a penalty, negating what could have been a game-changing moment. Instead, Hancock County extended its lead just before halftime when Shearn intercepted a pass and returned it nearly the length of the field for a pick-6, putting the Hornets up 14-0 at the break.
Hancock County maintained control throughout the second half, holding their two-touchdown lead into the fourth quarter. The Hornets sealed the win with a halfback pass from Brady Eubanks to Shearn for his third touchdown of the night, this time a 30-yard reception.
Hancock County head coach Bobby Eubanks praised Shearn’s performance after the game.
“Hayden came into his own tonight. He’s always had the potential — athletic, tough, fast — and he put it all on display tonight. Anytime he had the ball, he was electric,” Eubanks said.
Eubanks also credited his team’s success on the ground.
“We ran the football well tonight, which was key,” he said. “Coming into the game, our run game was a bit of a question mark, but we proved we could run and take care of the ball.”
The win moves Hancock County to 1-0 in district play, a key step in securing a potential home-field advantage in the playoffs.
“This was a big district win for us,” Eubanks said. “Playing this early district game and getting the win puts us in a much better position moving forward.”
The Cougars had their chances but were unable to put points on the board, as Hancock’s defense held firm throughout the night.
With the victory, Hancock County looks to build on its momentum next week at home against Tell City in a battle of the Ohio River. McLean County will regroup and head to Elkton for their next contest against Todd County Central.
