Fall 2005 PG Football vs. United States Military Academy

Tigers Defeat Army with Big First Half

Offense explodes and defense holds as Hargrave wins 42-7

Chatham, VA – The Hargrave post graduate football team made it obviously clear that there is no place like home. In their first and only home game of the 2005 season, the Tigers proved to be too much for the Army Black Knights, defeating the visitors from West Point, New York 42-7 on Saturday afternoon.

The huge crowd on hand, including the entire corp of Hargrave Military Academy cadets, witnessed an offensive explosion. Although the PG offense was held to a three and out on its first possession, the Tigers bounced back and scored on their next four opportunities with the football.

The first score for Hargrave came on a third and long situation from the 50 yard line. Running back Keiland Williams followed a great block by full back Cedric Hickman through a hole opened on the left side and took it the distance to give Hargrave a 7-0 lead.

Hargrave came out strong defensively. Defensive linemen Darius Massenberg, Callahan Bright, Justin Mincey, Melvin Alaeze, Jerrell Powe, Ernie Hodge, and hometown product Horace Hubbard helped to keep the Black Knights in a hole all day long.

After a forced fumble on the ensuing kick off the Tigers took over again, this time with a shorter field in front of them. It took the Hargrave offense just one play to reach the end zone again when Keiland Williams took the hand off up the middle for the touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

The Tiger defense once again held tight with the help of a strong effort from the secondary. If there was a big hit award, safety Corey Goodson would probably receive it every game. The University of Kentucky commitment showed that he was not afraid to lay the lumber to the Black Knight running backs and receivers all game long. Cornerbacks Ryan Brinson, Anthony Johnson, Ross Hagberg, Merf Trout, and Khalil Conteh were strong all game long. Safeties Zaire Kitchen, Adam Stewart, George Helow, and Goodson shut down the Army offense on third and long situations.

The Hargrave offense once again marched down the field in impressive fashion. This time it was running backs Keiland Williams, Mike Ford and Morgan Green, quarterbacks Tim Jones and Jarrett Dunston, and receivers Vidal Hazelton and Joe Nairn who lead the charge. In the end though it was Cedric Hickman who plunged in from 2-yards out for the score and a 21-0 Hargrave advantage.

The Hargrave defense went back to work in an attempt to produce their second shut out in as many weeks. Linebackers Darius Dewberry, Mario Harvey, Rhakeem Smith, and Charles Owens proved to be too strong for the Black Knight offensive line and running backs.

The next possession for the PG offense was much of the same. Quarterback Tim Jones found receiver Vidal Hazelton from 32-yards out for his fifth touchdown of the season even with an Army defender interfering with him. Hargrave declined the penalty and took a commanding 28-0 halftime lead.

The Black Knights offense had much of the same problems in the second half. The Tiger defense kept them off balanced on every snap. Linebackers Doug Wilson, Aaron Horace, Chris Jaeger, and Malcolm Robertson came up with some big plays in stopping the Army offense in the third quarter.

The Hargrave offense continued with their dominance in the third quarter. Running back Morgan Green carried a major load on the ground while receivers Craig Hayden, Vidal Hazelton, Mike Ryder, and Joe Nairn all caught passes on the first drive. The Tigers went up 35-0 when full back Cedric Hickman took the ball in from 5 yards out for his second score of the day.

The Tiger offense kept kickoff artist George Pierson busy all day long. His kicks kept Army in a deep hole for the entire game.

The Hargrave defense finally surrendered their first score in seven quarters when Army laced a pass in between two Tiger defenders to cut the lead to 35-7 late in the fourth quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff Hargrave showed that it was not done. Behind some great blocking, Mississippi State commitment Anthony Johnson took the ball down the right sideline 87 yards on the kickoff return into the end zone. After another Stephen Phillips extra point, Hargrave went ahead 42-7, a score that would stick until the final whistle.

In the fourth quarter Hargrave held onto the lead with the help of some fine running by running backs Joel Ellerbe and Alfonso Wells behind the blocking of full backs Mike Hazel and Al Pierce. The offensive line consisting of John Jerry, Matt Hardrick, Darrius Myers, Mike Harness, Andrew Farr, Brian Kelly, Cole Baucom, Drew Timme, and tight ends TC Drake, Cody Slate, and Mike Ryder helped spring the Hargrave offense to 483 yards of total offense on the day.

The Hargrave PG’s will travel to Lexington, Kentucky on Thursday for a Friday game with the University of Kentucky. The Wildcats are coming off of a disappointing loss to the University of Florida on Saturday. Meanwhile the Tigers move to 3-1 on the season. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 PM on Friday September 30th at Commonwealth Stadium on the campus of the University of Kentucky.

Hargrave Military Academy logo.