Howard County Championship Game
Oct 28, 2023 15:06:14 GMT -2
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Post by themamba on Oct 28, 2023 15:06:14 GMT -2
It was the heavyweight fight that lived up to its billing. The county championship went down to the wire, and wasn’t decided until the next to last play of the game.
The Reservoir Gators escaped Valhalla with a game-winning touchdown pass with 40.8 seconds remaining to claim the program’s first county championship in a 28-24 win over the Mt Hebron Vikings.
Jordan Tate’s 16 yard toss to Destin Hill in the corner of the end zone was the biggest of the handful of big plays that propelled the Gators to victory. The Vikings dominated the time of possession, and out-gained the Gators, but Tate & Co. came up with the big plays when it mattered.
The game started just as an old 70’s heavyweight championship would - slow and deliberate, with both teams feeling each other out, and playing protective. The quarter ended with the Vikings punting twice, and the Gators punting twice. The Vikings netted just 15 yards of offense, while the Gators managed just six.
Then, the haymakers began. On the second play of the second quarter, Vikings senior Coleman Hallums went off his left tackle, hit the corner, and raced 68 yards to the end zone to put the first points on the board - and the Valhalla faithful in a frenzy.
That frenzy didn’t last, as the next two plays couldn’t have been worse for the Vikes. A bad snap on the point after would have the hosts chasing extra points the rest of the night. The missed opportunity was the first of four failed conversions for the Vikings, including three two-point attempts that followed.
It would get worse. On the ensuing kickoff, the Gators used that momentum and provided their own fireworks, when Miles Reinders took the kick back 77 yards to the ‘house’, and with the successful point after, give the visitors a 7-6 edge.
After the Vikings were forced to punt a third time, and after a seven yard run by Tate on the first play from scrimmage, the senior quarterback ripped up the middle for 60 yards to push the Gators to the Vikings 18 yard line. On the next play, senior ‘AD’ Alvarado broke several tackles, trucked a Viking at the five yard line, and ran it in, giving the Gators a 14-6 advantage.
The Vikings were nonplussed, answering with a 14 play, 80 yard scoring drive, just before halftime, punctuated by senior quarterback Tobie Lewis’ five yard run. The two-point attempt came up just short, and the Gators took a 14-12 lead into halftime.
Then Tate, whose offense was on the field for only ten plays in the first half, picked up where he left off after his fourth and final carry of the first half, with the 60 yard that helped push the Gators ahead.
On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, Tate went through the middle again, scoring on a 72 yard run that gave the Gators a 21-12 lead. Thanks to the kickoff return by Reinders, the two runs by Tate, and score by Alvarado, the Gators held a nine point lead, with just 11 offensive plays.
The Vikings then went to their ‘bread-and-butter’, the ground game, featuring Hallums, with assistance from Lewis. The Vikinngs came into the game saddled without their other star running back, Aiden Hauf, who was injured in the first half of the Vikings loss to Howard last week. His loss certainly hurt, without the county’s touchdown leader, but Hallums and Lewis stepped up.
The Vikings orchestrated another 14 play scoring drive, this one going 65 yards, finished by a two yard run by senior Brett Barron. While both county titans had scored three touchdowns, the Vikes trailed 21-18, after the failed conversion, with 2:44 remaining in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter, the championship round, provided the big plays, two lead changes, and the game-winner in the final minute.
Trailing 21-18, the Vikings defense needed a stop - and delivered, forcing a three-and-out. Then, the Vikings special teams came up huge, when senior Nick Duda blocked the Gators punt and gave the home team the ball on the Gators 29 yard line. Two plays later, Lewis found junior Ruchir Bondada in the end zone on a 22 yard touchdown pass to put the Vikings on top, 24-21.
Again, on the following possession, the Vikings defense stepped up, stopping Tate for a two yard loss, stuffing Alvarado for a seven yard loss, followed by a host of Vikings chasing Tate out of the pocket and forcing a grounding call on third down.
The Vikes had momentum, forcing the Gators to punt, and taking the ball near midfield, with a three point lead, and just over five minutes remaining. That’s when the Gators defense made their own statement, forcing a three-and-out. After the Vikings made what seemed to be the wise decision to punt on fourth-and-four near midfield, with 3:36 to play, after their defense had just produced to ‘stops’, netting negative yardage for the Gators.
But, on the return, the Vikings were assessed a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty, giving the Gators the ball at their own 49 yard line with 3:24 on the clock. After several nice runs by Tate, and a 16 yard pass to Destin Hill, the senior quarterback found his classmate Hill in the corner of the end zone from 16 yards out to give the Gators a 28-24 lead with :40.8 to play.
Hallums made one more gallant effort, taking the kickoff back 43 yards on the return, and giving the Vikings the ball at the Gators 40 yard line, with :32.8 remaining. But, on the next play, Lewis was intercepted by Reinders, and the Gators needed just one play in ‘victory formation’ to seal it.
The anticipated showdown proved to be a well played, very competitive game, one that went down to the final seconds. Four touchdowns to four touchdowns. Sometimes, many times, it’s the little things in football that decide games. This game was no different.
Still, the game offered many big things too, highlight reel material, starting with Hallums 68 yard sprint to open the scoring, followed by Reinders 77 yard return, then Tate’s 60 yard run, followed by Alvarado’s best Earl Campbell imitation on his touchdown run, then Duda’s big block, then Lewis’ big toss, wrapped up with Tate’s game-winning throw.
Tate finished the game with 162 rushing yards and a score, to go with the game-winner. Alvarado was bottled up for 26 yards on 11 carries, but supplied the game’s most powerful run, and was a keystone to the Gators defense, including their last two stands.
Hallums rushed for 157 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries and showed why he’s the most explosive player in the county, finishing with more than 200 all-purpose yards. Lewis came up big in the running game without Hauf, taking 11 carries for 57 yards, converting several first downs. Lewis completed four of seven passes for 38 yards and a touchdown.
Congrats to both Coach Banta and Coach Frederick, both teams played like champions. For Coach Banta, he guides the Gators to their first county championship in their program’s 21 year history. For Frederick, he leads the Vikes to their best regular season in twenty years, and just the fifth seven-win season in their program’s history.
Hats off to both programs for an outstanding production under the ‘big lights’.
The Reservoir Gators escaped Valhalla with a game-winning touchdown pass with 40.8 seconds remaining to claim the program’s first county championship in a 28-24 win over the Mt Hebron Vikings.
Jordan Tate’s 16 yard toss to Destin Hill in the corner of the end zone was the biggest of the handful of big plays that propelled the Gators to victory. The Vikings dominated the time of possession, and out-gained the Gators, but Tate & Co. came up with the big plays when it mattered.
The game started just as an old 70’s heavyweight championship would - slow and deliberate, with both teams feeling each other out, and playing protective. The quarter ended with the Vikings punting twice, and the Gators punting twice. The Vikings netted just 15 yards of offense, while the Gators managed just six.
Then, the haymakers began. On the second play of the second quarter, Vikings senior Coleman Hallums went off his left tackle, hit the corner, and raced 68 yards to the end zone to put the first points on the board - and the Valhalla faithful in a frenzy.
That frenzy didn’t last, as the next two plays couldn’t have been worse for the Vikes. A bad snap on the point after would have the hosts chasing extra points the rest of the night. The missed opportunity was the first of four failed conversions for the Vikings, including three two-point attempts that followed.
It would get worse. On the ensuing kickoff, the Gators used that momentum and provided their own fireworks, when Miles Reinders took the kick back 77 yards to the ‘house’, and with the successful point after, give the visitors a 7-6 edge.
After the Vikings were forced to punt a third time, and after a seven yard run by Tate on the first play from scrimmage, the senior quarterback ripped up the middle for 60 yards to push the Gators to the Vikings 18 yard line. On the next play, senior ‘AD’ Alvarado broke several tackles, trucked a Viking at the five yard line, and ran it in, giving the Gators a 14-6 advantage.
The Vikings were nonplussed, answering with a 14 play, 80 yard scoring drive, just before halftime, punctuated by senior quarterback Tobie Lewis’ five yard run. The two-point attempt came up just short, and the Gators took a 14-12 lead into halftime.
Then Tate, whose offense was on the field for only ten plays in the first half, picked up where he left off after his fourth and final carry of the first half, with the 60 yard that helped push the Gators ahead.
On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, Tate went through the middle again, scoring on a 72 yard run that gave the Gators a 21-12 lead. Thanks to the kickoff return by Reinders, the two runs by Tate, and score by Alvarado, the Gators held a nine point lead, with just 11 offensive plays.
The Vikings then went to their ‘bread-and-butter’, the ground game, featuring Hallums, with assistance from Lewis. The Vikinngs came into the game saddled without their other star running back, Aiden Hauf, who was injured in the first half of the Vikings loss to Howard last week. His loss certainly hurt, without the county’s touchdown leader, but Hallums and Lewis stepped up.
The Vikings orchestrated another 14 play scoring drive, this one going 65 yards, finished by a two yard run by senior Brett Barron. While both county titans had scored three touchdowns, the Vikes trailed 21-18, after the failed conversion, with 2:44 remaining in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter, the championship round, provided the big plays, two lead changes, and the game-winner in the final minute.
Trailing 21-18, the Vikings defense needed a stop - and delivered, forcing a three-and-out. Then, the Vikings special teams came up huge, when senior Nick Duda blocked the Gators punt and gave the home team the ball on the Gators 29 yard line. Two plays later, Lewis found junior Ruchir Bondada in the end zone on a 22 yard touchdown pass to put the Vikings on top, 24-21.
Again, on the following possession, the Vikings defense stepped up, stopping Tate for a two yard loss, stuffing Alvarado for a seven yard loss, followed by a host of Vikings chasing Tate out of the pocket and forcing a grounding call on third down.
The Vikes had momentum, forcing the Gators to punt, and taking the ball near midfield, with a three point lead, and just over five minutes remaining. That’s when the Gators defense made their own statement, forcing a three-and-out. After the Vikings made what seemed to be the wise decision to punt on fourth-and-four near midfield, with 3:36 to play, after their defense had just produced to ‘stops’, netting negative yardage for the Gators.
But, on the return, the Vikings were assessed a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty, giving the Gators the ball at their own 49 yard line with 3:24 on the clock. After several nice runs by Tate, and a 16 yard pass to Destin Hill, the senior quarterback found his classmate Hill in the corner of the end zone from 16 yards out to give the Gators a 28-24 lead with :40.8 to play.
Hallums made one more gallant effort, taking the kickoff back 43 yards on the return, and giving the Vikings the ball at the Gators 40 yard line, with :32.8 remaining. But, on the next play, Lewis was intercepted by Reinders, and the Gators needed just one play in ‘victory formation’ to seal it.
The anticipated showdown proved to be a well played, very competitive game, one that went down to the final seconds. Four touchdowns to four touchdowns. Sometimes, many times, it’s the little things in football that decide games. This game was no different.
Still, the game offered many big things too, highlight reel material, starting with Hallums 68 yard sprint to open the scoring, followed by Reinders 77 yard return, then Tate’s 60 yard run, followed by Alvarado’s best Earl Campbell imitation on his touchdown run, then Duda’s big block, then Lewis’ big toss, wrapped up with Tate’s game-winning throw.
Tate finished the game with 162 rushing yards and a score, to go with the game-winner. Alvarado was bottled up for 26 yards on 11 carries, but supplied the game’s most powerful run, and was a keystone to the Gators defense, including their last two stands.
Hallums rushed for 157 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries and showed why he’s the most explosive player in the county, finishing with more than 200 all-purpose yards. Lewis came up big in the running game without Hauf, taking 11 carries for 57 yards, converting several first downs. Lewis completed four of seven passes for 38 yards and a touchdown.
Congrats to both Coach Banta and Coach Frederick, both teams played like champions. For Coach Banta, he guides the Gators to their first county championship in their program’s 21 year history. For Frederick, he leads the Vikes to their best regular season in twenty years, and just the fifth seven-win season in their program’s history.
Hats off to both programs for an outstanding production under the ‘big lights’.
