The common denominators in Gainesville football's first two games and wins of 2024 were a suffocating and steady defense, and a slow-starting offense, one that would find its footing with halftime adjustments and score a flurry of unanswered points in the third quarter.

Friday against Westlake the Red Elephants were able to subtract one of those denominators - kind of - and in doing were dominant beating the Lions 41-7 in their own den.

Led by sophomore quarterback Kharim Hughley, Gainesville's offense stomped away the slow-start stigma scoring 21 points in the first quarter. Two of the touchdowns were Hughley passes to Taz Smith and Shane King respectively, the third score came on a Carmelo-Byrd run.

The suffocating and steady defense that served as the stoic common denominator in Gainesville's previous wins, gave up an early touchdown and then - literally - nothing else, keeping its status intact.

While the offense did move away from status quo with its fast start, the third quarter remained the decider between a win and a rout as the Red Elephants scored on the second play from scrimmage - a Hughley-to-Jeremiah Ware pass - in their opening possession and never looked back.

All told, Hughley hit six different receivers while going 17-of-31 passing for 347 yards and four touchdowns. Smith caught all six passes thrown his way for 126 yards and two scores, one of the touchdowns an 80-yard run after he recovered a high snap on a punt attempt. Ware had two receiving touchdowns for Gainesville as well.

Next up, a bye week before Big Red heads to Carrollton the take on Class 6A's top-ranked Trojans.

EXTRAS
Photo Gallery: GHS vs. Westlake
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Game Highlights and postgame interviews:
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