The University High defense got off to a fast start Friday night against Albert Gallatin (Pa.), using force and flare with two early turnovers.
The Colonials were able to get into Hawks territory on their first possession, but a thunderous hit jarred the ball loose and UHS recovered.
It eventually led to a 1-yard Noah Braham touchdown run.
On the next UHS defensive series, Jaeden Hammack plucked an interception out of the air with one hand, and while he was controversially ruled down, it also led to a touchdown on a 42-yard screen from Luke Hudson to Sebastian Dalton.
Two turnovers led to 14 early points, setting the tone for a
42-8 Hawks victory.
“They were creating some problems for us (early),” UHS head coach John Kelley said. “That Wing-T is tough to figure out. You can try in practice but it’s not the same as they do it. They had a chance to score right off the bat, they were moving the ball, but the [turnovers] took a little bit out of them and I think we just wore them down in the second half.”
Hammack, a senior, did a little bit of everything for the Hawks (5-2), which he’s done his entire career. On top of his highlight interception, he also caught five passes for 45 yards and a touchdown. But it was his pick that caused some “oohs” and “ahhs” from fans.
Hammack even joked that he probably should have gone up with two hands.
“But when it’s there, you have to take it,” he said with a smile.
After the opening barrage, UHS, ranked No. 13 in this week’s WVSSAC playoff ratings, steadily wore out Albert Gallatin (2-4), heading into the locker room with a 24-8 lead.
It was the second half, though, where the Hawks were able to grind it out on the ground, thanks in “large” part to 6-foot,
260-pound running back Melique Lewis.
He finished with
88 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries, all in the second half, leaving Colonials defenders in his wake.
“In the second half, we didn’t want to keep throwing it, but obviously, [Lewis] can play for real,” Kelley said. “He’s an answer to Colin McBee we had last year.”
Dalton had 77 yards on the ground to go along with his 48 yards and a touchdown through the air.
Hudson was 10 of 17 for 209 yards and two touchdowns.
There was some sloppy play toward the end, something Kelley said will be addressed during UHS’s bye week next week.
“I just didn’t think offensively we were totally efficient,” he said. “We could have done a better job, but defensively, they really played great in the second half.”
UHS held the Colonials to 188 total yards —
129 rushing and 59 passing.
Jace Bowers led Albert Gallatin in rushing with
46 yards.
The Hawks will host Preston following their bye on Oct. 21, followed by the Mohawk Bowl at Morgantown High, and the regular season finale at Spring Mills in early November.
“Our goal is to finish
3-0, and that’ll put us where we want to be,” Hammack said.
BY SEAN MANNING
Box score
AGHS 0 8 0 0–8
UHS 14 10 12 6–42
SCORING SUMMARY
UHS – Braham 1 run (Coleman kick)
UHS – S. Dalton 42 pass from Hudson (Coleman kick)
UHS – Coleman 22 field goal
UHS – Hammack 15 pass from Hudson (Coleman kick)
AG – Bowers 2 run (Zotter run)
UHS – Lewis 1 run (conversion no good)
UHS – Michael Jones recovery after blocked punt (conversion no good)
UHS – Lewis 12 run (kick no good)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: AG – Bowers 2-46 TD; Guesman 10-35; Zotter 6-30; Potkul 7-20; Darnell 6-3; Larkin 3-(-9); Pegg 1-5; Conroy 1-(-1). UHS – S. Dalton 10-77; Lewis 9-88 2TD; A. Dalton 4-24; Byrer 2-(-22); Braham 1-1 TD.
PASSING: AGHS – Larkin 2-4 3; Zotter 1-1 56; Guesman 0-1 0. UHS – Hudson 10-17-1 209 2TD.
RECEIVING: AGHS – Guesman 1-56; Darnell 1-6; Bowers 1-(-3). UHS – Hammack 5-43 TD; Braham 2-76; Coleman 1-42; S. Dalton 2-48 TD.
