Fall 2004 PG Football vs. Lackawanna Jr. College

For immediate release October 2, 2004
Tiger PG’s overcome penalties to top Lackawanna Hargrave improves to 6-0 with strong team effort

Scranton, PA On an overcast and rainy day, the Hargrave Military Academy Post Graduate football team found a few rays of sunlight. Besides racking up over 300 yards in penalties from a group of flag happy officials, the PG’s combined a strong offensive output with a bend but don’t break defensive effort to hand Lackawanna Jr. College a 28-13 loss at home on Saturday.

The first quarter had the offense showing a little tempo from the opening kickoff. Quarterback Terry Mitchell led the Tigers on a quick 40-yard drive, only to be intercepted at the Falcons 23. Without hesitation the defense went to work on the Lackawanna offense. It took the defense just four plays to give the offense a perfect opportunity for the games first score. On fourth and 6 from their own 27, the Falcons rolled the dice with a fake punt attempt which proved to be a mistake. On the ensuing drive it took Terry Mitchell three plays to find tight end Brandon Lang streaking into the end zone from 30 yards out to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead.

Lackawanna swapped punts with Hargrave from that point, but on their next possession began moving the football. The Falcons marched the ball down the field on a 10 play, 64 yard scoring drive to knot the game up at 7-7. The Tigers wasted no time getting back ahead with a 7 play, 58 yard scoring drive of their own. Mitchell hit Lang and Deanco Oliver on deep pass routes while running back Curtis Brinkley hit the ground running. Brinkley scampered in from 14 yards out to give the Tigers the lead at 14-7 going into the second quarter.

The second period proved to be much of the same for both teams. Lackawanna put together a nice drive to start the quarter by taking the ball down to the HMA 30 yard line, but defensive backs Don Hargroder and Lionel Mitchell tightened up causing a pass to fall incomplete on fourth down. After a few punts in both directions the Tiger offense worked their way down field. Quarterback Chris Allison hit three different receivers, including Lang, Oliver, and Bruce Francis before Curtis Brinkley scored his second touchdown of the day from 6 yards out. With the Jonathan Dorchak extra point, the PG’s went up 21-7 midway through the second quarter.

With a lead built up, the PG defense stood tough. Defensive linemen Demonte Bolden, Brandon Fanney, Peria Jerry, Willie Young, Fred Fairchild, and Sam Frist helped to stop the Falcons on another fourth down attempt, giving the offense the ball in great field position. This time it was running back Andre Brown following Jared Gaither, Brandon Holland, Phillip Browning, Ryan Adams, and Brandon Albert in for the score and a 28-7 lead heading into the half.

The second half proved to be ugly for both teams. The Tiger offense could not get much going with the amount of dirty laundry thrown on the field by the officials, which caused them to rely on the defense for help. The PG defense, lead by linebackers Greg Hurt and Joseph Clark held tough throughout the second half. Time after time, the defense allowed Lackawanna to move the ball downfield, but would not allow the Falcons into the end zone. With time winding down in the fourth quarter Lackawanna finally was able to put one more touchdown on the scoreboard, but the game was in hand by that point and the Tigers took a knee to end the game and give Hargrave a 28-13 victory on the road.

The Tigers move their record to a perfect 6-0 on the season. The PG’s will once again be on the road next week when they travel to Greenville, NC to battle the East Carolina Pirates on Tuesday October 12th. Game time is slated for 4:00 PM at Dowdy Ficklin Stadium on the campus of ECU.

Other notable statistics
Offense
RB Andre Brown 16 carries 103 yards, 1 TD RB Curtis Brinkley 11 carries 75 yards 2 TD’s TE Brandon Lang 4 receptions 81 yards, 1 TD QB Terry Mitchell 7/17 91 yards 1 TD QB Chris Allison 3/4 passing 50 yards WR Bruce Francis 4 receptions 47 yards WR Deanco Oliver 2 receptions 17 yards
Defense DB Don Hargroder 13 tackles, 1 TFL LB Joseph Clark 10 tackles, 1 TFL DB Lionel Mitchell 7 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 Int, 3 PBU DL Demonte Bolden 6 tackles DL Fred Fairchild 4 tackles, 1 sack DL Brandon Fanney 4 tackles
Hargrave Military Academy logo.