Late Touchdown Pushes LaGrange Past The Hawks

MONTGOMERY, Ala.-  Looking to bounce back from their homecoming loss to Brevard, Huntingdon football(3-5 overall, 3-3 USA South) fell to the Panthers of LaGrange College(5-3 overall, 5-1 USA South) at home 24-21 in the final minute of the contest.

Receiving the ball on the opening kickoff, the Hawks first possession stalled after three consecutive incomplete passes. A booming 67-yard punt from Landon Pulliam forced LaGrange to begin their opening possession at their own 10 yard line. Huntingdon's defense capitalized on the field position, forcing a punt of their own to return possession back to the Hawks with 12 minutes remaining in the quarter.

As the first period wore on, neither offense could find any momentum down the field. The most explosive play of the quarter came inside the final ten seconds, as James Cheatham ripped of a 17-yard run, setting the Hawks up on LaGrange's 27-yard line entering the second quarter. Nonetheless, Huntingdon had to settle for a field goal, which would be blocked, leaving the score at 0-0. Facing a critical moment following the blocked kick, the Hawks defense continued to swarm and forced yet another Panther punt.

The first points of the game belonged to Huntingdon just inside the four minute mark in the quarter, with Dorian Smith finding Brody Covington from one yard out to give Huntingdon their first lead of the game 7-0. LaGrange responded with a 12 play, 76 yard drive that ended with a three-yard rushing touchdown to make the halftime score 7-7.

Coming out of the break on defense, the Hawks continued to hold their own, with Jahmir Cromblin finding his way into the backfield to blow up a Panthers passing attempt, leading to another punt. Huntingdon's offense looked to attack aggressively following the punt, opening their drive with a 12-yard completion to Terrell Copeland, but the Hawks weren't able to capitalize on a fourth down passing attempt, flipping possession back to LaGrange. Looking to respond, a 49-yard touchdown pass for the Panthers at the 9:55 mark in the quarter put LaGrange ahead for the first time in the contest 14-7.

Following another Huntingdon punt, a 25 yard field goal for the Panthers extended their lead to 17-7 with 2:35 remaining until the fourth quarter. On the ensuing drive, Huntingdon's offense found life, with a 48-yard reception from Sam Bloodworth putting the Hawks in position with RJ White cashing in on a 12-yard reception to cut the deficit to 17-14 entering the final quarter.

Huntingdon's special teams flipped the momentum on the following drive, with Malikih Montgomery blocking a LaGrange punt to give the Hawks possession on the Panther's 41 yard line. Just as the Hawks were finding their rhythm, LaGrange jumped a Dorian Smith pass attempt, intercepting the ball on their own 25 yard line to regain possession. Their offense would stall out, putting Huntingdon in a two-minute drill to try and secure the victory. Smith found Covington again down the seam for a 24-yard gain, allowing the Hawks to take the lead with 1:49 to go on a two-yard rush from Troy Garner.

After a solid kick return for the Panthers, LaGrange pushed the ball down the field quickly, scoring on a 15-yard passing attempt to take a 21-17 lead in the final 20 seconds, and the Hawks ran out of time, dropping their third consecutive USA South contest.

Hawk Top Performers

• #2 Sam Bloodworth- six receptions, 125 yards
• #16 Braylon Miller- 11 tackles
• #7 Robert Vickers- 9 tackles

The Hawks hit the road to take on Southern Virginia on November 9th as they look to get back in the win column. Kickoff is set for 12:00 PM CT.