Hawks Win Battle Against Belhaven

Montgomery, Ala.-Huntingdon Football defeated Belhaven, 34-21. The Hawks are now 3-1 overall and 1-0 to start USA South Conference play. 

Troy Garner rushed 33 yards for a touchdown at 9:36 to give the Hawks a 7-0 lead. Tyler England completed a 72-yard punt return touchdown to make it 14-0 at 7:29 of the first quarter. 

At 11:48 of the second quarter, Belhaven ended a 13-play 59 yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 14-7. Belhaven tied the game at 7:55 with an 11-yard touchdown run. Hawks Quarterback Landon Cotney found Conner Bradford for a 52-yard touchdown pass to give the Hawks a 20-14 lead.

Belhaven gained a 21-20 lead at 3:34 of the third quarter with a 25-yard touchdown pass. The Hawks answered back at the end of the third quarter with Kahari McReynolds rushing 5 yards for a touchdown to make it 27-21. Cotney connected with Troy Garner on a 9-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 34-21. 

Cotney was 14-24 with 266 yards and 2 touchdowns. Kahari McReynolds led the team with 17 carries and 90 yards. Troy Garner had 8 carries for 47 yards and 1 touchdown. Conner Bradford had 3 catches for 84 yards and 1 touchdown. 

Casey Peppers led the defense with 23 total tackles. Tucker Spence had 11 tackles including a sack for a loss of 13 yards. 

"I think we played really well, real physical, had a bunch of good effort, but we still have stuff to work on and need to improve on some things that we should be better on," Kahari McReynolds said. "We went over this all throughout the week, just going together and finishing the drives and getting through the plays that we've been doing all week. We were prepared."

"They were a very physical team," Casey Peppers said. "It was definitely a very tough game. During practice this week, we basically went over everything that we got today. So when that happens during the week, Monday through Friday, it makes it easy to put yourself in the game and then you're seeing what you're seeing in practice and the game. It definitely translates."

"I'm so proud of our guys for  hanging in there and finding a way to win," Head Coach Mike Turk said. "We've had two of these tough games already so I feel like our guys are battle tested and I feel like they understand what it takes to win a four quarter fight. We have a long way to go. We still have some really good football teams on our schedule."

The Hawks travel to Maryville on Saturday, October 1st. Kickoff is set for 12:00 PM CST.