On Friday night at Don Howell Field, Class 4A #13-ranked Hanover Central came to town to square off with the Class 4A #16-ranked Hobart Brickies in a CLASH OF NCC TITANS!! Both squads entered the game with identical 4-0 conference records ...and the winner of this one would control their own destiny towards winning a conference title.
In a physical first quarter of play, neither team was able to put points on the board and the clock struck zero with Hanover driving deep into Brickie territory. Early in the 2nd period, the Wildcats crossed the goal line and took a 7-0 lead. After a Hobart punt, the Wildcats scored again on a long pass play to increase their advantage to 14-0. With their proverbial backs against the wall trailing by two touchdowns, the Bricks CAME OUT SWINGING! First, it was a LONG run by senior Willy Shearer to get Hobart into Wildcat territory! Then, sophomore QB Aleks Tatum hit senior wideout Aidan Leonard for a 19-yard TOUCHDOWN ...and when senior Zander Lankford booted the extra point through the uprights, it was 14-7!
To open the 3rd stanza, the two teams traded punts, which gave the ball back to the Brickies. It took Hobart about 3 minutes to get in the redzone and Shearer took care of the rest with a 4-yd TOUCHDOWN run!! With 12 minutes left, it was ALL TIED UP!!
Early in the 4th quarter, Hanover was threatening, but sophomore Bryce Tolliver hauled in an interception near the goal line to stop the threat and give the Brickies the ball back!! Hobart was unable to capitalize on the turnover and the Wildcats got the ball back in Brickie territory. On 4th down from the 26 yard line, Hanover running back Caiden Varrett rumbled 26 yards around the right side for a touchdown to put the Wildcats back in front 21-14. At the 3-minute mark, the Brickies had one more chance. Hobart drove the ball down the field in an attempt to get the game tied up, but a turnover in the closing seconds sealed the win for Hanover.
Final score: Hanover Central 21, Hobart 14
It was a GREAT high school football game and even though our boys came up one score short of a victory, the EFFORT and GRIT they showed was admirable ... our kids always BELIEVE - something that could come in handy if we see the Wildcats again in the sectional.
Tatum finished 13/21 for 146 yards passing and rushed for another 75 yards
Shearer carried the pill 27 times for 130 yards and a score
Sophomore Aiden Kasch hauled in 5 catches for 79 yards
Junior Josh Diaz and senior Jaelen Williams led the D-D-D-DEFENSE with 8 tackles each.
The Brickies are 4-3 overall and 4-1 in NCC play. Hobart will be on the road @ Hammond Morton on Friday and then wrap up the regular season @ Highland the following week. FINSH STRONG BOYS!! WE ARE HOBART!!
#PLAY15
