Hargrave Defeats Rival Fork Union 40-34
Williams and Ford combine for 420 yards in victory
November 4, 2005
FORK UNION, Va. – Hargrave Running backs Keiland Williams and Mike Ford combined for 420 all purpose yards to pace the Hargrave PG Tigers to a convincing 40-34 win over in state prep school rival Fork Union Military Academy on Friday afternoon.
Things got off to a rocky start for the Tigers after a three and out to start the game, it took FUMA just one play to take an early 7-0 lead. On first down FUMA running back Jacoby Ford took a toss around the left side before cutting it back against the grain rambling 75-yards to put the home team up 7-0 early in the first quarter.
Hargrave would respond quickly after a fumble recovery deep in FUMA territory. Quarterback Jarrett Dunston found Mike Ford on a screen pass and Ford scampered 25-yards for the score. The extra point was no good and the Tigers trailed 7-6 midway through the first quarter.
FUMA would once again put together a drive down the field to find the end zone. The home team would fake the conversion attempt and completed the two point conversion giving them a 15-6 lead.
On the ensuing possession Jarrett Dunston would once again go to the air. This time he found recently named Army All American receiver Vidal Hazelton on a play action pass down the right sideline from 45-yards out. The score would still keep FUMA on top, but the Tigers cut the lead to 15-13 in the second quarter.
Fork Union would find the end zone one last time in the first half on a fade pass from deep in Tiger territory. The extra point was good and once again FUMA was on top by nine with a 22-13 edge.
The Tiger offense answered again. This time it took Hargrave just three plays to cut the lead to two points. After a 36-yard run by Keiland Williams and a 13-yard run by Mike Ford, fullback Cedric Hickman plunged in from 1-yard out for his first of three touchdowns on the day. The Hickman score made the score 22-20 late in the second quarter.
That score would not hold as FUMA was able to add a field goal late in the second quarter to take a 25-20 going into the half.
The second half was considerably different in favor of the Tigers. The Hargrave defense came out on fire in the third quarter. Cornerback Anthony Johnson intercepted a FUMA pass to end a drive and give the Tiger offense the ball back poised to go on top for the first time. This time it was the offensive line that deserved the credit. John Jerry, Callahan Bright, Mike Harness, Jerrell Powe, Matt Hardrick, Jon Meldrum, and Brian Kelly lead the charge while springing Ford and Williams to big gains. Cedric Hickman would again take a dive play into the end zone from 5-yards out for his second score and giving HMA a 26-25 lead. Hargrave would attempt a two point conversion and find their way into the end zone when Hickman pounded it in from 3-yards out putting the Tigers up 28-25 for their first lead of the game.
The HMA defense would once again hold tight. Lead by linebackers Doug Wilson, Chris Jaeger, Rahkeem Smith, Darrius Dewberry, Mario Harvey, and Charles Owens, the PG’s were able to give the offense the ball back consistently in the second half.
Hargrave extended their lead in the fourth quarter when Hickman again took it in from 5-yards out. Tight end Cody Slate once again came up with some clutch catches. On third down and long, Slate went over the middle for a 15-yard gain to set up the Hickman touchdown. The score gave the Tigers a 34-25 lead and after another failed extra point attempt Hargrave held the nine point advantage.
FUMA would not go away. This time it was another one play drive. On first down from the Hargrave 45-yard line the Fork Union quarterback found his running back out of the backfield on a wheel route and after a missed tackle he walked in to cut the lead to 34-31.
Hargrave would once again find the end zone in the fourth quarter. This time is was Mike Ford again taking it in from over 25-yards on a toss to the right side. The score would give Hargrave a 40-31 lead late in the game.
FUMA would add a field goal to cut the lead to 40-34, but that is all they could muster as cornerback Ryan Brinson intercepted a Fork Union pass deep into Hargrave territory with under a minute to go in the game to secure the victory for the cadets from Chatham.
Hargrave will be back in action next Thursday when they travel to Morgantown, Virginia to face nationally ranked West Virginia University. The win also moves the Tigers to 8-2 on the year with their only two losses coming by a total of four points. Game time versus West Virginia is slated for 1:30 PM.
