TAYLORSVILLE – The Taylorsville Tartars flexed their muscles and provided an offensive show to eliminate the Loyd Star Hornets 47-14 Friday night in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs in football action.

The Hornets managed to break up the scoreless game in the fourth quarter and end the Tartars’ shutout when senior fullback La’Treall Smith punched in a nine-yard run for a touchdown with 6:55 remaining.

Freshman running Zacchaeus Arnold added another score for Loyd Star with 2:14 in the fourth quarter, when he sprinted 16 yards to pay dirt, and Parker Flowers connected with Shay Hodges for the two-point conversion.

Loyd Star managed to muster up a total of 204 yard against Taylorsville’s tough defense. Arnold was the offensive leader for the Hornets with seven carries for 77 yards on the ground.

Freshmen quarterback Parker Flowers directed the air attack for the Hornets, completing two of six passes for 10 yards.

Hodges and Smith caught the two passes for five yards each.

Defensively, Peyton Flowers was the top hitter for Loyd Star with 18 tackles. Colby Cade contributed five stops. Blake Ramsey intercepted a pass.

La’Treall Smith paced the Hornets’ special team with 176 all-purpose yards on five carries.

The Hornets (3-8, 2-3) concluded their season under the leadership of assistant coaches Jared Britt, Seth Britt and Dustin Sisco. Together, they managed to motivate the Hornets football players to get to the playoffs for the first time in four years.

The Tartars (10-2, 5-0), coached by Matt Caldwell, advance to the second round of the playoffs and visit Scott Central Friday. Kickoff at 7 p.m.