Football: Huntingtown 14, Northern 13

*** Click here for video highlights and interviews from the game ***

By James A. McCray III
Prince George's County, Content Manager

The point after attempt. Very rarely in a football game does the point after attempt decide the final outcome of the game. However, in Friday night's Calvert County contest with the visiting Northern Patriots and the hosting Huntingtown Hurricanes, a point after attempt is exactly what decided the game.

With a little less than 2 minutes remaining in the third quarter, Northern quarterback Phillip Taylor connected with Terrell Gray on a 5-yard touchdown that cut the 14-7 Huntingtown lead to 14-13. As the point after team lined up for the tying field goal, Huntingtown's Justin Albro broke through the line and blocked the attempt, thus securing the eventual 14-13 Huntingtown victory.

"Going through my head was, 'Fourteen 14, can't let this happen.' Big game on the line, county champs, had to get it done," Albro said.

"When La Plata scored a touchdown last week, we blocked the extra point on that one too," Huntingtown head coach Jerry Franks said. "I told the kids before the game ... last week you never quit, and to keep that in mind. When Northern scored tonight, I told them I wanted them to line up just like they did at La Plata and I want them to get another one, and they did. Obviously, that was the point that won the game for us."

The Hurricanes scored on its opening drive of the game as quarterback Peter Athens capped off a six-play drive by connecting with Dave Stanley on a 25-yard touchdown pass. Stanley was the beneficiary of a tipped pass that fell into his hands for the score.  

Northern responded on its ensuing drive as Craig Hawkins punched it in from 2 yards out to tie the game at 7-7.

The 'Canes took the lead back just before the half as Athens connected with Albro from 22 yards out increasing the lead to 14-7. Athens finished the game with 148 yards on nine of 11 passing and two touchdowns.

"Offensively, I was just trying to make something happen," Athens said. "My line was doing some great blocking for me, my wide receivers were getting open for me, and it was all clicking in the first half."

Greg Goodwin led Huntingtown's ground attack as he rushed for 85 yards on 18 attempts.

Northern (3-6, 1-6) was led offensively by running back Craig Hawkins as he rushed for a game-high 129 yards and a touchdown on 17 attempts as Taylor rushed for 88 yards on the game as well.

With the win Huntingtown (8-1, 6-1 SMAC) has defeated each of the Calvert County teams, Calvert (35-20), Patuxent (19-18), and Northern for the Calvert County championship.

The win also moved Huntingtown one step closer to securing home-field advantage throughout the 3A South playoffs.

"Tonight's win was huge," Franks said. "If we would have loss this game, we still could have made the playoffs if we won next week, but having a home game would have been out of the question."

tmccray@digitalsports.com

Huntingtown 14, Northern 13

Northern     --   7   0   6   0
Huntingtown -- 7   7   0   0

First quarter:
H -- Stanley 25 pass from Athens, 2:53 (Peterson kick)
N -- Hawkins 2 run, 7:06 (Hester kick)
Second quarter:
H -- Albro 21 pass from Athens, 6:23 (Peterson kick)
Third quarter:
N -- Gray 5 pass from Taylor, 10:17 (kick failed)

Top individual performers
Rushing
Northern: Hawkins 17-129, Taylor 10-88
Huntingtown: Goodwin 18-85, Athens 5-26
Passing
Northern: Taylor 4-12-0 45
Huntingtown: 9-11-0 148
Receiving
Northern: Holland 1-16, Hawkins 1-20
Huntingtown: Stanley 5-82, Stueckler 2-36, Albro 1-21