HUNTSVILLE — Locust Fork overcame a penalty- and fumble-riddled first half to finally pull away for a 46-21 Class 4A Region 7 victory at Westminster Christian.

Despite eight penalties and four fumbles (one lost) in the first half, the Hornets still managed to score 26 points. But the penalties especially hurt the defense, keeping alive two offensive thrusts by the Wildcats which led to 14 of their 21 first-half points.

But in the second half, the Hornet defense settled down and consistently halted the Westminster attack. Locust Fork’s offensive juggernaut kept rolling, as they scored on three of their first four second-half possessions to put the game away.

Junior running back Micah Stephens scored three touchdowns on runs of 94, 19, and 15 yards on the way to a 216-yard night on just 12 carries. Quarterback Todd Goodwin also tallied three scores as he ran for 156 yards on 13 rushes. Fullback Shiloh Biles got in on the party as well, rambling for 108 yards on 10 carries as Locust Fork piled up a season-high 544 rushing yards and 583 yards of total offense.

Westminster threw the football 32 times, but three of those tosses were intercepted by Hornet defenders. Jake Branham, Joey Robinette, and Jacob White got the picks for Locust Fork.

The Hornets are now 4-0 for the first time since 1998 and are 2-0 in region play. They host defending 4A state champion Oneonta next week.