Derrick McGhee and the Dallas County Hornet offense had a coming-out party Friday night against area opponent Livingston.

McGhee scored four touchdowns while directing the new spread offense to an emphatic 43-8 win over the Cougars.

Georgia Tech commitment Michael Johnson set the tone early, blocking a punt on Livingston’s initial possession with Jesse Hill recovering at the Cougar 29-yard line.

From there Rafael Miller and McGhee pushed the Hornets’ ground attack to paydirt as McGhee scored on a 3-yard keeper. His PAT try was blocked and the Hornets led 6-0.

The Hornet defense, led by Hill, Johnson, Dalton Anthony, Tavarious Mitchell and Joe Cunningham, was stinging early and again held Sumter County.

Dallas County (2-0, 1-0) quickly scored on its next drive when Miller, a junior tailback, took a pitch from McGhee, found good blocking downfield and raced 80 yards for another quick score.

McGhee’s keeper on the 2-point conversion put the Hornets up 14-0 at the 4:15 mark of the first period.

After another three-and-out by Livingston, McGhee hit Courtney Stubbs for 26 yards to the Cougar 5-yard line.

Following a procedure call, Miller swept right as the quarter ended, giving the Hornets a 20-0 edge.

Johnson blocked another punt deep inside Cougar territory and McGhee made them pay.

On first down, he cut back from three yards out for the score. His 2-point pass to Stubbs put the Hornets up 28-0.

Brandon England’s 31-yard run, set up McGhee’s 4-yard gallop, gave the Hornets a commanding 35-0 lead at intermission with the PAT.

In the second half, Dallas County coach Rick Bush freely substituted and featured England and freshman backup quarterback Jacob Paxton. England pounded his way to a 100-yard-plus rushing night to join Miller, who scored two touchdowns.

The Hornets’ defense shut out Livingston, with the Cougars scoring on a 43-yard interception return by David Hutchinson.

The Hornets

will take on regional rival Demopolis on Friday night at Tiger Stadium.