Locust Fork rode a dominant first-half offensive performance for 28-18 Class 4A Region 6 victory at Crossville — a win that was more comfortable than it looked by the final score.

The Hornets only had the football four times in the first half, producing touchdowns on the first three drives and were moving toward a fourth when the clock ran out.

Quarterback Kyle Hornbuckle found Brandon Rylant for a 30-yard scoring pass early in the first quarter, and after Hornbuckle punched through the first of his four point-after kicks on the night, Locust Fork led 7-0.

After stopping Crossville on downs at the Hornet 36, the visitors moved 64 yards in eight plays for their second touchdown, with Hornbuckle finding Josh Tawbush in the rear of the end zone.

After the Lions kicked a 31-yard field goal to cut the Hornet lead to 14-3, another long scoring drive for the Locust Fork offense was capped when Tawbush scored from the 1-yard line.

The Hornets’ Joey Robinette intercepted a pass from Crossville quarterback Brody White at the Locust Fork 5-yard line, and the Hornets marched to the Lions 30 before the half ended.

On the second play from scrimmage in the second half, White rolled to pass but found no one open, and took off running. After breaking a couple of tackles, he found clear sailing for a 72-yard scoring run. Eric Rodriguez’s point-after made it 21-10 early in the third period.

But once again, Locust Fork’s offense moved seemingly at will as they marched 67 yards in eight plays to answer the Lions’ score. Tawbush raced in from eight yards out to put the Hornets ahead 28-10 Hornets midway in the third.

Crossville’s last offensive threat of the night came after the Hornets fumbled a Crossville punt, leaving the Lions only 14 yards to traverse for a touchdown. White rand around left end from three yards out with 54 seconds left in the quarter, and then White found Ty Cole for a 2-point conversion.

Crossville managed to run only seven offensive plays in the fourth quarter as the Hornet offense played keep-a-way by holding the ball for nearly 10 minutes.

The Hornets rushed for a season high 300 yards, with Micah Stephens gaining 120 yards on 12 carries, Shiloh Biles adding 91 more on 12 runs and Tawbush rambling for 80 on 12 carries.

White led all rushers with 131 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns for Crossville.

Hornbuckle was 5-for-9 passing for the Hornets for 102 yards.

Locust Fork (4-2, 2-2 region) celebrates homecoming next Friday as they host region rival Douglas, while Crossville (1-5, 0-4) will host Guntersville.