DAINGERFIELD-Remember the name of Hughes Springs' junior fullback Bo McEntire.
Daingerfield isn't likely to forget it anytime soon. McEntire found the end zone four times Thursday night as the Mustangs coasted to a 24-0 season-opening victory over the Tigers at Mickey Mayne Stadium.
McEntire posted single tallies in each quarter as the Mustangs piled up 167 yards on the ground. Junior wingback Dedrick Hill paced the Ponies with 71 yards on just seven touches. Hill consistently converted third down opportunities as Hughes Springs went 6 for 10.
It was a tough night for the Tigers and their first-year boss Mike Waldie. Daingerfield's offense couldn't get untracked and was hampered all evening by high and low snaps from center to quarterback. The untimely miscues resulted in a loss of 73 yards.
The Mustangs built on their 12-0 halftime lead when the Tigers fumbled on the opening snap of the third quarter. Hughes Springs needed seven plays to push across another McEntire score with 7:49 left in the third.
Hill slithered through a hole on a trap and netted 11 yards when the Ponies needed eight to keep the drive alive. A facemask by the Tigers moved the ball to the seven and set up a first and goal.
A bright spot for Daingerfield was the running of senior Markevian Grant, who ripped off a 16-yard dash on first down following Hughes Springs' third touchdown. That was the best play of the evening to that point for the Tigers. Grant ended the evening with 66 yards on 12 carries.
It was a high snap on a punt attempt by the Tigers that set the tables for a final Mustang score as the third quarter horn sounded. The snap resulted in a 25 yard loss and gave Hughes Springs possession at the hosts 23 to start the fourth quarter.
Looking at third and eight from the nine, Hill was stopped after a gain of three. But Daingerfield was flagged for a personal foul and the drive extended. McEntire polished off the 8-play, 23-yard push that used 4:45 of the period when he crashed over at 7:06.
The Mustangs struck first when junior cornerback Ty Menefee picked a pass from Tiger sophomore Jakauri Woods and returned the ball back 26 yards to the eight.
McEntire got the call following the turnover and rolled into the end zone on a give straight up the gut with 8:57 left in the first quarter.
Hughes Springs threatened again when junior quarterback Alex Bruce got flushed from the pocket, broke containment and glided 36 yards the Daingerfield 33. The Tiger defense rose up and dropped Bruce on consecutive snaps and took the Ponies out of field goal range.
Hill took a counter and sprinted 28 yards to move the chains for Hughes Springs on a third and five early on in the second period. The Mustangs converted three of five third downs in the opening two quarters and finished with 145 yards total offense.
McEntire ripped off a 12-yard run following the Hill gallop and eventually capped the drive from five yards out on a score almost identical to his first period tally. The try for two failed after the 8-play, 65-yard drive that used 4:11 of the play clock.
Daingerfield was having difficulty getting things moving and went the the locker room at the break with 24 yards total offense and just three first downs.
Tiger starter Woods suffered an injury in the second quarter and was relieved by junior Reggie Jeter. Woods did not return in the second half.
Daingerfield returns to action next Friday at Atlanta, while Hughes Springs remains on the road Thursday at Arp.