ST. PETERSBURG — Dixie Hollins coach Shannon Brooks said that over the first three games, Jacquez Hill has stepped up and become the go-to-guy in the Rebels’ offense.
On Thursday, Hill lived up to the billing and caught three touchdown passes from quarterback Tyrie Adams as Dixie Hollins held off Seminole 28-17.
“Jacquez has shown that he’s a tough guy to cover,” Brooks said. “And when we call his number we feel good about what he can do.
“He and Davontae Harrington have really stepped up and provided a nice balance to our offense.”
The Adams-Hill connection really warmed up in the second half as a 30-yard pass play gave the Rebels a 21-10 lead and blew the game open. Hill added a 6-yard touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter to push Dixie’s advantage to 28-10.
The Rebels (2-1) had a hard time getting their offense on the field as Seminole took the game’s opening drive and held on to the ball for nearly nine minutes behind tough running from Travis Wateska. The Warhawks (1-2), however, couldn’t get a touchdown out of the drive and settled for a 21-yard field goal from Marshall Legard.
“That was a big stop because our defense hung in there and stayed focused,” Brooks said. “I was a little worried because we weren’t able to get off the field and then we struggled running in the first half but things picked up a lot in the second half.”
Hill’s first touchdown catch, a 37-yarder, gave Dixie Hollins a 7-3 lead. Seminole came back behind a defensive play from Ja’Quanne Dickens, who picked off Adams and returned the interception for 46 yards to give the Warhawks a 10-7 halftime lead.
Early in the third quarter the Rebels returned the favor when David Labbe picked off an errant screen pass and returned it 16 yards to give Dixie a 14-10 lead.