Rich East toots its Horne against Rich South
By Jeff Vorva For Sun-Times Media October 6, 2012 9:38PM
Rich East's Nick Horne (at right) runs past Rich South's Jaylen Zachery (back right) during a game at Rich East High School Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, in Park Forest. Rich East won 48-20. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: December 6, 2012 1:54AM
Rich East senior Nick Horne said he’s been playing football since he was 5 and “never carried the football in my life.”
That changed Saturday afternoon as he had the game of his life. Horne started for injured fullback Carleto Jackson and ran 22 times for 213 yards and two touchdowns to help the host Rockets win the Sauk Trail Super Bowl Trophy with a 48-20 victory over Rich South on Saturday afternoon in Park Forest.
Horne and quarterback Malcolm Miller (167 yards on nine carries and two TDs) helped the Rockets (5-2 overall, 3-0 in the Southland Conference) rack up 473 yards — all on the ground. Kenneth Naylor ran in three touchdowns.
“When I was young I was always the biggest kid so I was always the wide receiver or quarterback,” the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Horne said. “This was really fun. It was a lot more physical.
“It’s all determination. This is my last year on this field. I just want to hit. I want to do what’s good for my family and that’s to win.’’
East led 28-20 in a wild first half that featured 436 yards of offense and eight plays of 20 yards or more.
East closed the half with a big defensive stop. The Stars had the ball at the Rockets’ 1 in the final minute but linebacker Alioko Stevens stopped Stars running back Wilbert Voss III for a four-yard loss with 25 seconds left. The Stars were whistled for an illegal procedure penalty and fumbled the ball away to waste a scoring opportunity.
Rich South visited the red zone three more times in the second half but could not score.
Defensive end Shamond Kemp had a sack, a fumble recovery and forced a fumble. Jamal Greenwood recovered a fumble and Naylor had an interception for the Rockets.
Quarterback Brendon Zachery was 18-of-37 for 214 yards and two TDs for the Stars (3-4, 2-2).
