by Brian Turrel
A defensive struggle turned into a double-overtime thriller when the Harmon Hawks visited Schlagle High School on Friday evening. The Stallions scored a touchdown in the second overtime series to win the game 12-6.
The first period of the game was scoreless. Both teams led long drives that stalled in their opponent’s territory.
Harmon got on the board in the second quarter, capping a drive with a 4-yard run up the middle from senior Terrence Johnson. Johnson powered the Hawks’ offense all night on quarterback keepers.
Schlagle looked like it might tie the game at the end of the second quarter. Running back Jaylin Richardson switched to quarterback, and the Stallions started to gain consistently long yardage on sweep plays. However, Richardson was ejected for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and the drive stalled deep in Harmon territory.
The third quarter was another defensive grind, with neither team able to capitalize, even with good field position.
Schlagle quarterback Joshua Becton picked up the Stallions’ only regulation score on an 81-yard touchdown run with 9 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Becton cut back around the left side and found room to accelerate away from the Hawks’ defense.
Harmon thought it had gone ahead late in the fourth on an end run by Michael Reed. The play was called back for offensive holding, and in a remarkable sequence of penalties and sacks, Harmon went from a game-winning touchdown to deep in its own territory facing fourth down and 40 yards to go.
As the clock wound down, both teams went to the air to try to make a winning play. The gambles failed to pay off, and both defensive squads held firm with interceptions. A Schlagle drive and near-touchdown with 3 minutes remaining were snuffed out by a fumble, recovered by Harmon’s Shannon Robinson in the end zone.
In the first overtime series, Schlagle fumbled away its possession, and Harmon was held out of the end zone on downs.
In the second series, Harmon led off, but was intercepted in the end zone by linebacker Jermaine Hicks. Schlagle scored on the very next play on a run around the left side by Becton to take the victory.
The win takes Schlagle to 3-1 for the season (2-1 in the Kansas City-Atchison League). They’ll play an away game against Sumner Academy next Friday. Harmon drops to 2-2 (0-2 KCAL). The Hawks will play host to the Lansing Lions next Friday. Both games start at 7 p.m.
