Home is where the heart is, or at least that is what the Hargrave Military Academy Post Graduates believe. In their first and only home game of the season the PG Tigers handed in state rival Fork Union Military Academy a 35-21 loss on Friday to solidify the top spot among Prep Schools in the Country.
Hargrave started things off on the right foot after returning the opening kickoff out to their own 22 yard line. From there the Tigers used a potent ground game to move the ball methodically down the field. Running backs Chubb Small and Andre Brown combined in the effort and on 2nd and goal from the FUMA 1 yard line, Brown went in for the first score of the game to go up 7-0. Fork Union decided that the game would not be a shut out on the following drive. FUMA moved the ball down field with precision and tied the game up at 7-7.
The second quarter was much of the same as Hargrave kept the ball on the ground with the running skills of running backs Small, Brown, and Curtis Brinkley. Quarterback’s Chris Allison and Aubrey Norris combined in the first half to complete 4 of 7 passes for 89 yards while most of the passes were caught by tight end Brandon Lang. Curtis Brinkley scored on a 10 yard run to put HMA up 14-7 going into the half.
FUMA wasted no time scoring after the half. It took Fork Union just two plays to move the ball down the field to tie the game at 14-14. It was then the Tigers offense that took control of the game by scoring 21 unanswered points. The first score came when Chris Allison found Bruce Francis on a corner route. Francis slipped behind the safety and took it 60 yards for the score to put HMA up 21-14. The defense then stood tall. Cornerback Brandon Anderson intercepted a Fork Union pass on his own 40 yard line and was ruled down before breaking away down the sideline. Cornerback Lionel Mitchell also came up with some touch breakups on the drive, giving the offense the ball back on the Hargrave 40 yard line.
The Tigers moved the ball down field with precision once again behind the blocking of fullback Sam Wheeler. This time Aubrey Norris finished the drive off with a one yard quarterback sneak to put Hargrave up 28-14. Defensively the PG’s worked to stop the FUMA offense for the entire second half. Lead by linebackers Freddie Fairchild (1 interception) and Joseph Clark the defense answered the challenge. Defensive linemen William Wall, Brandon Fanney, Lorenzo Washington, and Demonte Bolden made sure that the FUMA running attack never got going in the second half. Once again the defense set up the offense, this time it was on a punt blocked by Breon Rogers who broke through to knock the ball back to the FUMA 20 yard line. That was all that running back Chubb Small needed and carried the load on the short scoring drive to give the Tigers a 35-14 lead after another Jonathan Dorchak extra point.
Hargrave kept the lead until a leaping FUMA receiver brought down a touchdown reception with 2:35 left in the game. On the ensuing kickoff Marcus Vareen hopped on the onside kick attempt and gave the Tigers the ball on the 45 yard line. Running back Robert Barcliff carried the ball for some tough yards to help run out the clock and give HMA a 35-21 victory.
Hargrave ended up with 515 total yards of offense while getting most of it on the ground. For the Tigers, running backs Andre Brown and Chubb Small rushed for over 100 yards a piece respectively while Curtis Brinkley was only 4 yards shy. The rushing attack was sprung by the play of the offensive line consisting of Brandon Albert, Jared Gaither, Brandon Holland, Shaun Branscome, Christian Johnson, Ryan Adams, Anthony Barnhardt, Seth Butler, Michael Yates, Phillip Browning, and Wilson Raynor. The receivers also blocked well led by Deanco Oliver, Jason Burton, Victor D’Arrigo, Bruce Francis, Brandon Lang, John Hall, Marcus Vareen, and Brandon McRae. While at quarterback, Chris Allison and Aubrey Norris combined for 8 of 13 passing for 156 yards on the day.
Defensively the Tigers were led by linemen Brandon Fanney, Demonte Bolden, William Wall, Willie Young, Mychael Savage, Lorenzo Washington, Ian Childress and Samuel Frist. Linebackers Joseph Clark, Mark Johnson, Olu Hall, Greg Hurt, Jordan Richards, Freddie Fairchild, Billy Hansford, and Greg Dial. In the defensive secondary Brandon Anderson, Paul Crews, Rajiv Lundy, Duane Tigney, Chad Cowell, Breon Rogers, Don Hargroder, and Lionel Mitchell helped shut down the passing attack and gave support to the run defense.
The Tigers will be on the road for their final game of the year when they travel to Blacksburg, VA to battle the nationally ranked Virginia Tech Hokies. Game time is scheduled for 1:00.
