After playing tough in the 1st quarter, mistakes would doom the COMMANDOS in the 2nd quarter against the top ranked Oakland Patriots in the 2021 season opener. Hendersonville would kickoff to begin the game and the defending TSSAA class 6A champions would go on a 10 play scoring march to put HHS down 0-7 early in the contest. HHS would force a couple of 3rddowns on the drive, but were unable to get OHS off the field. Hendersonville would look fresh on their 1st offensive possession as #25 Torin Baker would race 58 yards after catching a pass from #11 Luke Manning for the COMMANDOS first touchdown of the season. #36 Thomas Matchell would add the PAT to tie the score at 7. Oakland would answer with a 2 yard TD run on drive that started with a long run. HHS would be forced to punt on the next possession, but the snap would sail over the punters head setting the Patriots up at the 5 yard line and they would score on the next play to make the score 7-21. After #26 Stevin Mack picked up a rushing 1st down for Hendersonville, they would throw an interception that OHS would return 55 yards making the score 7-28. Oakland would add one more TD before halftime to make the score 7-35 at the break. A first down run by #10 Ellis Ellis would start a promising drive to begin the 2nd half, the COMMANDOS would throw another interception. #88 Jack Busey would help get the ball back for the COMMANDOS by forcing a fumble that #48 Anthony Christian recovered, but Hendersonville would then have to punt. Oakland would end the scoring on the next drive with a 45 yard TD pass. The final score would end up 7-42. Next week the COMMANDOS (0-1) travel to play their first out of state team as they will head to Kentucky to take on the South Warren Spartans (1-0). Kickoff is set for 7:00 on the campus of South Warren High School.
