After a competitive first half that had both ties and swapped leads, the Nashville Hornets dropped to Mater Dei, 41-26, Saturday afternoon in Breese.
Mater Dei scored first after a Nashville fumble during the first possession. Later that quarter, Hornet Cole Malawy would find Nick Miller for an 83-yard touchdown run for the Hornets to inch behind the Knights, 7-6.
The second quarter would continue to be close, and the Hornets tied the game at 13 after Connor Gladson would score a touchdown following a Knights fumble. Nashville took its only lead, 20-13, after Malawy shoots a touchdown pass to Isaac Turner. Mater Dei would later tie the game at halftime.
Mater Dei would outscore the Hornets with three touchdowns in the third to take control of the game. Nashville would attempt to rally in the fourth with a Jaxson Goforth touchdown but ultimately came short in those efforts.
Malawy completed 20 out of 32 passes for 309 yards. Miller had six catches for 142 yards and Turner had five catches for 48 yards. Overall the Hornet offense had 359 total yards.
Hornets Coach Steve Kozuszek told 104.7 and Section618 Sports that he believed his team put forth a valiant effort but could not get the momentum back.
“We have nothing to hang our heads about,” Kozuszek said. “I thought we played well. We had given maybe the best team in the state everything they wanted for two and a half quarters. We just deflated after we went down two scores.”
Nashville (3-1, 3-0) next plays conference rival Du Quoin on Friday during its Homecoming game. Hornets currently hold the top ranking in the SIRR Mississippi Division conference with the Indians in the second place spot.
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