Hackett Lined Up For Ray’s First Title

Eddie Ray has been the head coach at Hackett for a pair of stints in his coaching career but he is on the verge of accomplishing a first.

The veteran coach all but sealed his first even conference championship as the Hornets took down Mountainburg, 35-20, last Friday. Not only did Hackett take a big step forward with the win but it also earned McDonald’s team of the week honors.

Hackett’s players, coaches and managers were treated to some tasty treats Monday afternoon thanks to an area McDonald’s. The Hornets face Dierks in nonconference this week before closing the regular season with back-to-back 2A-4 games against Johnson Co. Westside and rival Hartford.

“It gives us a chance to finish first in the conference, which hasn`t happened it a few years and gives us a good playoff draw,” Ray said. “Just a huge win, big win for the program.”

Hackett has not won a conference championship since winning consecutive titles in 2006 and 2007.

C.J. Clem’s 80 yard catch and run for a touchdown late in the second quarter but the receiver said he just wanted to get the momentum back for the Hornets.

“Our momentum was kind of shot down after we kept switching the ball over,” Clem said. “It really didn’t pump me up but helped set the tone, helping our team go into halftime with some momentum and I think that really helped us coming out since we got the ball back at half. I just did whatever I had to do to get our momentum back.”