BY BRIAN HAMILTON
MORRISTOWN – Cocke County handed Morristown East its first win of the season on Friday night. The Fighting Cocks looked good early, as they scored on their first possession. However, the Hurricanes would score 42 unanswered points to win 42-7.
Cocke County received the opening kick and marched down the field for a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead with 9:12 left in the first quarter.
Morristown East would answer immediately, as Eli Seals found Trevor Malone for a touchdown. The Hurricanes converted the extra-point to tie the game at 7-7 with 7:50 left in the first.
Ethan Ledford took off for a 61-yard touchdown run later in the opening quarter to put Morristown East in front 14-7 with 3:15 remaining.
The Hurricanes took a 21-7 lead with 8:31 left in the second quarter when Ledford ran for a 23-yard touchdown. A touchdown pass from Seals to Micah Simpson would put Morristown East in front 27-7 with 5:50 left until halftime.
Cocke County went to intermission trailing the Hurricanes 27-7. Ledford finished the half with 170 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries.
Morristown East would cruise in the second half, winning 42-7, as Ledford finished with a record-setting night, running for 337 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries.
The Fighting Cocks (1-7, 1-2 Class 5A Region 2) will host West (6-1, 3-0) who is the top-ranked team in Class 5A next Friday night.
Morristown East (1-6) will travel to West Ridge (5-2) next week.