Khris Francis put on a show for the home crowd at Russell Blunt Stadium on Friday night, and the Roxboro Person defense had a front-row seat.
The electrifying sophomore running back ran for 107 yards and three touchdowns and caught an 11-yard pass for a score - all in the first half - leading Durham Hillside to a convincing 47-0 victory over the Rockets.
"Khris is a workhorse," Hillside coach Antonio King said. "He's waited his turn behind Brandon China and Jamaal Williams and those guys and he learned a lot. It's his time to shine and he is taking full advantage of it."
Francis capped off a 10-play, 73-yard opening drive with a 4-yard run, then raced for a 51-yard score on the Hornets' next possession for a 16-0 advantage.
He capped off his fine first quarter with a 19-yard touchdown run right through the middle of the Person (0-7, 0-3 Pac Six) defense to put his team up 22-0.
The Hornets (5-1, 2-0) scored twice in the last 2:09 of the half. Francis caught a touchdown from Collyn Anderson and, after the defense stopped Person, reserve quarterback Cinco Simmons connected with Kelvin Wright from 26-yards out as time expired to push the lead to 34-0.
The Hillside defense did its job, holding the Rockets to 29 yards of total offense.
"We were all over the ball tonight," King said about his defense. "To pitch a shutout and to have an overall effort like that is real nice."
Anderson passed for 146 yards on 12-for-20 passing in the first half, including the touchdown to Francis.
The Hornets emptied the bench in the second half, as backup running backs Dontae Williams, who added six carries for 32 yards and a touchdown, and Julian Beltran, who added 29 yards and a touchdown on four rushing attempts, were able to chew up clock and keep their team in control.
King, whose Hornets won the state 4-A championship last season, said he has a team with a good blend of seniors and underclassmen, and is trying to build Hillside into a consistently winning program.
"We don't want to be a one-hit wonder," King said. "I think we are going in the right direction."
