by CJ Malinowskicjm@digitalsports.com
(SEE VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS AND INTERVIEWS BELOW)
Defense was the name of the game between Aberdeen and North Harford Friday, but a combination of offense and defense would lead to the eventual 21-0 win for the Hawks.
North Harford held the Eagles scoreless through the entire game, and a big performance by the Hawks Nate Belak in the first quarter was nothing short of a phenomenal start.
Belak was one of the main reasons for the Eagles’ failed offensive drives in the first quarter, racking up two sacks for a total of 18 yard against Aberdeen.
Starting both ways, Belak not only had a phenomenal performance on defense, but racked up 49 yards on the ground.
“It was hard,” Belak explained. “I knew the quarterback, and it was fun hitting him.”
“I think both teams were starting to feel each other out,” said Hawks head coach Ken Brinkman. “Our line played well and our back stepped up. It was a great overall team effort.”
It wasn’t until after the very quick paced first quarter that the Hawk’s offense stepped up.
On their first drive in the second quarter, the Hawks put together a solid eight-play drive to put up the games first six points.
Starting from their own 30-yardline, the Hawks’ drove into Aberdeen territory with a 27-yard run from Josh Grayson and plowed closer with another big run from Grayson for 11 yards.
Grayson’s 20 carries were good for 86 yards up and down the field.
“We pulled up number 22 from JV,” explained Brinkman. “We thought he could help us on our run game.”
Finding themselves on a fourth and four on the Eagles’ 30, Grayson carried the Hawks to the nine before North Harford quarterback Josh Barben pounded in the nine yard touchdown on the option left.
Barben would find the end-zone again in the third quarter with a five-yard quarterback keep and the 14-0 lead.
While his day in the air wasn’t the best, Barben’s two touchdowns and 33 yards on the ground made for an impressive evening.
With the 14-0 lead, there was not much more that could put the Eagles out of the game for good.
“We knew we had to keep the intensity going,” said Hawks lineman Danny Kwoka. “Our defense was playing solid ‘D’ rushing the quarterback, and we had complete pressure on him the entire game.”
And not more than five plays later, North Harford find the end-zone again; this time from the other side of the ball.
Facing a third and 10, Aberdeen quarterback Chris Hackett wound up and threw downfield only to find Hawks’ Jared Charles, who ran the ball back 45 yards for the pick-six and 21-0 score.
“I caught the ball, cut in front of the tight end and saw open space where I took it as fast as I could,” Charles said. “We have been running it all week in practice and I knew they were going to slide the tight end in front of me. It was my responsibility to step in front of him.”
It’s not that the Eagles didn’t have a chance to score, but fumbles and missed opportunities kept Aberdeen from getting on the scoreboard. A forced fumble ended an Eagle drive deep inside the Hawks’ 20 and dropped passes with nothing but the end-zone in sight hindered Aberdeen’s shot at a come-form-behind win.