Thrilling Finish As Hampton Tops McIntosh 56-48, First 2-0 Start In Program History
After season opening wins last week, the McIntosh Chiefs and the Hampton Hornets met up for a non-region match up under the lights in week two of the high school football season in a game that would thrill fans in attendance down to the final seconds of the game. The Chiefs would get on the board first after an opening drive that resulted in a Cole Landgaard, who finished with three touchdowns, 20 yard touchdown run off of a reverse.
Down 7-0, the Hornets would respond on the ensuing drive, capped with a 20 yard touchdown pass from Connor Tolley to Cameron Goggins, their first of three connections on the night. The Hornets would make good on a two point conversion and take an 8-7 lead. The Chiefs would later respond with another Morris to Landgaard touchdown, but Hampton would then score back to back touchdowns and take a 24-14 lead.
Later in the second quarter, after a McIntosh’s Marcus Malone Jr. rushed for his first of two touchdowns and the Chiefs trailed 24-21, the McIntosh defense came up with a huge defensive stop as they managed to keep the Hornets from scoring on a fourth and goal. On the ensuing possession, the Chiefs marched down field and looked to capitalize off the turnover, but Morris would be intercepted by Goggins and it would be the Hornets capitalizing as Tolley and Goggins connected for their second touchdown of the night.
Down 32-21 in the third quarter, momentum would swing in favor of McIntosh late in the period as the Chiefs would score 19 unanswered to take a 40-32 as they opened up the fourth quarter. The two teams would exchange scores over the final minutes, tying up the game twice, but with about 20 seconds to go, Tolley and Goggins would connect for the third time of the night for a touchdown and then complete the two point conversion, which they went 7-7 on the night, and pick up the 56-48 win.
“Stressful and tense,” is how Hampton head coach Chad Ashley described his emotions, particular in the second half, after the Hornets picked up the victory. “But I got to commend our kids, they found a way. We finally had adversity this year, they kept fighting and we were fortunate enough to come up with the win in the end,” Ashley said. With the win, the Hornets get their first two year start in the programs nine year history, one that Ashley has been there for since the beginning.
“It’s awesome. I saw it from the ground up when we opened up with no seniors,” Ashley reflected and recalling times when his young players at the time were battling more experienced opponents and taking their lumps. However, Ashley credited those same players for establishing a “work ethic” that has helped shaped the program to where they are now. “We’re starting to see it come to fruition now in year nine. We’ve been to the playoffs two of our last three years so we’re seeing it happen,” Ashley said adding “I’m so happy for our kids”.
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