POWDER SPRINGS - Hillgrove started its season with a bang, returning the opening kickoff for an 88-yard touchdown.

That was just a sign of things to come.

Taking advantage of several big plays, the Hawks busted out to a 42-point lead by halftime and coasted to a 48-14 win Friday at Cobb Energy/Hillgrove Stadium.

Haralson County simply wasn't a match for the Hawks, who dominated the line of scrimmage and racked up 247 yards rushing. When the line opened up gaping holes, the Hawks' playmakers did the rest, led by quarterback Synjyn Days, who earlier in the day verbally committed to play next year at Georgia Tech.

Days ran the triple option to perfection, shredding the Haralson defense as the Hillgrove offense racked up 325 total yards of offense in the first half alone.

The 48 points was the most the Hawks have scored in their brief four-year history.

"I thought we played well," Hillgrove coach Phil Ironside said. "Offensively, we controlled the football and didn't turn it over. The defense flew around and made a lot of big hits. We've got some penalties we've got to work out, but overall I thought we played really well."

The Hawks had three plays of more than 75 yards, two of which coming from sophomore halfback Kenyon Drake, who took the opening kickoff up the middle of the field and broke free down the left sideline. Late in the first half, he stretched out to grab a perfectly floated pass from Days and raced in for the touchdown.

Brennan Clark kicked one of his six extra points to make the score 42-0.

Four of Hillgrove's touchdowns were of 49 yards or more. It also had a 60-yard run nullified by a penalty.

"We were more athletic than Haralson," Ironside said. "We've got some guys that can make some big plays."

Days was only 4-of-5 passing, but still managed 129 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Ironside said his quarterback played well and made some good reads running the option.

The offense "didn't do anything special," Days said. "We just played with all our might and it just seemed like everybody was in the right place at the right time. I guess big plays happen in the triple option - just like at Georgia Tech."

Haralson opted for the mercy rule in the second half and scored two late touchdowns against the Hawks' reserves. Hillgrove's Jo Jo Marshall put a cap on his team's scoring by running the ball back 71 yards, bowling over a defender, cutting back and jumping into the end zone to make it 48-0 early in the fourth period.

After the game, Hillgrove quickly turned its attention to next week's game against Rome, which beat the Hawks last year and is ranked among the state's best in Class AAAA.

"Everything is going good," Days said, "but we need the momentum to carry over into Rome."