The Hancock Hawks (2-5, 1-0) scored on their final possession to beat the West Harrison Hurricanes (4-2, 0-1) by a 21-20 score in Kiln on Friday.
This was a Region 4-6A opener and a crucial game in deciding the playoff setup at the end of the regular season in November.
West Harrison has struggled in its 16-year program history against Hancock, and the game on Friday was the Hurricanes’ sixth consecutive loss in the series.
The defeat snapped West Harrison’s winning streak at four games and Hancock, with the victory, broke its four-game losing streak.
The scoring summary
With no points on the board at the end of the first quarter, Hancock came out driving down the field in the second quarter. Once the Hawks were inside the West Harrison 20-yard line, freshman Coleton Hopgood found receiver Tyran Ramsey for an 18-yard touchdown strike and a 7-0 Hancock lead with 6:15 left in the first half.
The Hurricanes quickly answered with their own attack as running back Jordan Stapleton dove in from 5 yards out to tie the score at 7 with 2:39 left in the half.
Coming out of the gates in the second half, a heavyweight battle started to pile up.
After a number of possessions were traded, Hancock marched down the field and running back Alex Vincent crossed the goal line for a 14-7 Hawks lead with 26 seconds left in the third quarter.
While much of the final quarter belonged to the Hurricanes, who scored back-to-back touchdowns on the ground from Trey Harris and Jeremy Jones, the final extra point was not converted and left the score 20-14 in favor of West Harrison with 6:30 left in the game.
The Hawks then slowly drove the ball down the field, burning the clock while gaining great yardage before Hopgood ran off tackle with under a minute remaining for a touchdown and a 20-20 tie. Hancock clinched the 21-20 win with the extra point.
What the coach said
“I must do better and the team will do better,” said West Harrison coach Quincy Patrick.
The numbers never lie
While West Harrison finished with 356 yards of offense and the Hawks gained 287, eight players had 25-plus yards.
Hopgood had 47 total yards and two touchdowns (a pass and a run).
Kaison Koenenn led the Hancock offense with 88 yards passing on 14-of-19 attempts and 36 yards rushing on 14 attempts.
Ramsey and Hancock linebacker Julyan Santee each had an interception to keep the Hurricanes off the field.
West Harrison was led by Stapleton, who combined for 249 yards on 21 touches and one touchdown. Harris and Jones ran for 72 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns.
Next up
West Harrison will take on Picayune at 7 p.m. on Friday. The Maroon Tide will roll in looking for their fourth straight win, something West Harrison surely won’t give up without a fight even though the Hurricanes have never defeated the Maroon Tide in 11 previous attempts.
Hancock will square off against George County at 7 p.m. on Friday. The Hawks are no doubt hoping to put an end to a five-game streak of away losses dating back to last season.
