by Seneca Contomanolis
DigitalSports Richmond
scontomanolis@digitalsports.com
For once this season Hanover came out on top of a close game.
Kenny Fryman rushed for two touchdowns and the Hawks' defense gave up only seven points in the second half as Hanover defeated host Cosby 21-20 on Friday night.
“It is about time,” Hawks coach Josh Just said. “Maybe we should always be trailing at halftime.”
In Hanover’s three losses (Deep Run, Highland Springs, Varina) this season the team either was tied or held a lead over a Top 10 opponent at the break.
This time down 13-7 at intermission the defending Central Region champs came out in the second half an earned a crucial victory in the Division 5 playoff race.
“Our backs were against the wall,” Fryman said. “We needed to win to stay in the hunt.”
Fryman, a senior who excels at linebacker, scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 3-yard run just four seconds into the fourth quarter.
Hanover at times relied exclusively on the run racking up 251 yards on 46 carries on a sloppy field.
The Hawks and Titans currently are tied for tenth in the DigitalSports Top 10. Hanover improves to 4-3 overall while Cosby drops to 5-2.
“We didn’t make the plays when we needed to,” Titans coach Pete Mutascio said. “That is what the difference was.”
Out of the gate Cosby made some plays right away under a light drizzle.
Junior quarterback Fuller Hoepner (9 for 18, 182 yards, 2 TDs, 1 Int) connected with wide receiver Bryce Dillon for a 41-yard touchdown pass on the Titans’ opening drive less then three minutes into the game.
Stephen Denuel missed the extra point and Cosby held a 6-0 advantage after the first quarter.
“We knew their quarterback was good,” Just said. “We were also very worried about Bryce Dillon.”
Hanover took the lead with 10 minutes left in the second quarter when senior quarterback Josh Wells floated a 21-yard pass over the shoulder of Deane Cheatham in the end zone. Rachel Moore’s point after made it 7-6.
The Hawks defense then forced a three and out but on the punt a Hanover player touched the ball and the Titans recovered it on the Hawks' 36-yard line with 7:40 remaining in the half.
A few plays later Hoepner found Garrett Hicks for a 19-yard touchdown pass and the extra point put Cosby back up 13-7.
The Titans looked to cushion their lead after a Joseph Thomas interception set up a 37-yard field goal attempt with 2:07 left but the kick was blocked and Cosby went into halftime up six.
“That is the most confident group of kids I have seen,” said Just of Cosby. “They are in every game because of their confidence.”
In the second half Hoepner threw an interception that Bryson Kemler returned to the Titans’ 34 at the 6:42 mark.
Four minutes later Fryman was in the end zone with a 1-yard run and the Hawks led 14-13.
“That’s just a package we put in a few weeks ago,” said Fryman. “I was at fullback and I just followed the blocks and kept running.”
Cosby came right back and grabbed the lead at 20-14 when Terry Williams took a handoff 80 yards for a touchdown on the Titans next play from scrimmage.
That would be the only mistake the Hanover defense made in the second half as Fryman (five tackles) and lineman Blake Jones (two sacks, five tackles) helped the unit lock down on Cosby.
The ensuing kickoff was returned to the Cosby 40 and a Cheatham 24-yard run helped move the ball to the three where Fryman rushed it in for the winner.
Cheatham, a sophomore, was impressive gaining 104 yards on 12 carries while Wells picked up 69 yards on 13 rushes.
The Titans punted on their next two possessions and then lost the ball on downs to close the contest.
“We’ve had a couple of bad breaks this year,” Just said. “It was great to get a good win like this, we needed it.”
Hanover 0 7 7 7 - 21
Cosby 6 7 7 0 - 20
C – Dillon 41 pass from Hoepner (kick failed)
H – Cheatham 21 pass from Wells (Moore kick)
C – Hicks 19 pass from Hoepner (Denuel kick)
H – Fryman 1 run (Moore kick)
C – Williams 80 run (Denuel kick)
H – Fryman 3 run (Moore kick)
RUSHING
Hanover - Deane Cheatham 12 attempts, 104 yards, Josh Wells 13-69, Kenny Fryman 8-42, Chris Lee 8-35, Xavier Crocker 4-1; Cosby - Terry Williams 8-69, Fuller Hoepner 11-35, Andre Redd 6-13
PASSING
Hanover - Wells 2 completions, 7 attempts, 1 interception, 35 yards; Cosby - 9-18-1-182
RECEIVING
Hanover - Cheatham 1 reception, 21 yards, Karlton Davis 1-14; Cosby - Bryce Dillon 3-76, Garrett Hicks 3-58, Chris Lusk 2-48, Williams 1-0
