Prep Football: Yellow Jackets thump Hawks 35-0 Friday night

St. Martin quarterback Seth Crockett surveys the situation vs. Hancock Friday night. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

BY SAM STAFF/Sports Writer
ST. MARTIN — For the first time in six years, St. Martin is off to a 4-0 start to a season.
The Yellow Jackets celebrated not only Homecoming but their home-opener as well with a 35-0 thumping of visiting Hancock Friday night. The decision not only moves St. Martin to 4-0 under new head coach Woddy Cagnolatti, but drops Hancock to 0-4 under new head coach Mikey King as well.
It marks the first time since in 18 years, since going 0-10 in the 2007 campaign, that the Hawks have begun a season at 0-4.
The Yellow Jackets got a solid outing from their dynamic offensive backfield duo of quarterback Seth Crockett and running back Kevin Marshall in the latest win. Crockett accounted for almost 260 yards of total offense and three touchdowns, while Marshall scored three touchdowns and had a big blocked punt that led directly to a rushing score by Crockett as well.

St. Martin running back Kevin Marshall heads toward the end zone on a scoring run vs. Hancock Friday night. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

Hancock quarterback Kaison Koenenn scrambles for yardage vs. St. Martin Friday night. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

St. Martin quarterback Seth Crockett takes a snap in the shotgun vs. Hancock Friday night. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

St. Martin quarterback Seth Crockett looks for running room vs. Hancock Friday night. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

Marshall’s 19-yard scoring run on St. Martin’s opening possession gave the home team a lead it would never relinquish. The score was set up by a pair of key completions from Crockett to wide out Cameron Romero.
Armed with that 7-0 lead, St. Martin forced Hancock to punt from deep in Hawks territory after its ensuing possession, and Marshall broke through to stuff the kick and the Yellow Jackets set up shop inside the HHS 10-yard line.
Crockett scored from 4-yards out two plays later to make it 14-0.
Crockett then found Marshall on a 21-yard scoring strike and SMHS was in complete control at 21-0 at halftime.
In the second half, Crockett found Marshall with a 13-yard touchdown toss in the third quarter to extend the lead to 28-0.

Hancock quarterback Kaison Koenenn looks for an open target vs. St. Martin Friday night. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

St. Martin wide out Ezell Johnson holds tight to the ball after a catch vs. Hancock Friday night. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

St. Martin quarterback Seth Crockett breaks free into open space vs. Hancock Friday night. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

St. Martin wide out Ezell Johnson churns for yardage as Hancock defender Derrick Smith hangs on and his teammate Dalton Rose closes in Friday night. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

St. Martin back-up quarterback Dawsen Sullivan completed the scoring with a nifty 47-yard touchdown scamper.
Not to be outdone, the Yellow Jacket defense completely shut down a Hancock offensive unit that was coming off of a 56-point effort last week against Poplarville.
It marked the first time Hancock has been shutout since the season opener in 2022. It also was the first time a Mikey King led team was blanked since week three of the 2021 team, when, ironically enough, Hancock shut down Greene County 31-0.
King came to The Kiln after serving in the same capacity in Leakesville for seven out of the past eight years.

Crockett finished up 22-of-25 through the air for the two touchdowns and 176 yards passing, and he also ran for a score and picked up 81 yards rushing in the win.

St. Martin running back Kevin Marshall strolls into the end zone for the first touchdown of the game vs. Hancock Friday night. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)