Bel Air senior Daniel Webber ran the opening kickoff back 95 yards Friday night to spark the Bobcats to a 28-20 UCBAC Chesapeake Division victory over visiting Havre de Grace.
The result, coupled with North Harford's 21-0 shutout of host Aberdeen, gives Bel Air the division title, having beaten both North Harford and Havre de Grace. All three teams finished 4-2 in league play.
Webber's big run was just the start of a nice night for the senior, who was playing with a heavy heart due to the recent loss of a grandfather.
"I knew we had to come out strong and get things done and I mean, that would be a good start to the game, so, all my teammates blocked well and we just got the job done early and that's what needed to get off to an early start so we could get on top of this team," Webber said.
The Warriors (7-2) stopped the two-point conversion, but it was 6-0 with just 14 seconds off the clock.
Havre de Grace wasted no time in getting points as well after a muffed punt by the Bobcats resulted in the game's only turnover. Warrior Jordan Day fell on the loose ball at the Bobcats (8-2) 37. Havre de Grace moved inside the Bel Air 20, but settled for a Clay Harris 31-yard field goal.
The Bobcats, sending their offense onto the field for the first time, put together a time-consuming drive of more than eight minutes, resulting in a Webber six-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Michael Yetter passed to Jon Scott for the conversion and a 14-3 lead.
The Warriors came right back again, with a mix of passes and runs, finished off by Mike Flosser's four-yard touchdown run and a Harris point-after-kick.
The Havre de Grace defense stopped the Bobcats on fourth down with a minute left in the half at the Warriors 28. Flosser (15-for-29, 248 yards) completed a pair of passes and ran (14 carries, 67 yards) for 14 more yards, setting up another Harris field goal attempt. Harris was solid, booting the 41-yard field goal that brought the Warriors to within one, 14-13, at the half.
Bel Air's defense forced the Warriors three and out to begin the second half, while the offense added to the lead. Keegan McHugh (21 carries, 121 yards) got loose for a 30-yard scoring run. The PAT was blocked.
The Bobcats also scored with their next possession. Webber (12 carries, 44 yards) fell into the end zone with a one-yard sneak and then added the conversion run to push the Bobcats lead to 28-13, just seconds into the final quarter.
Havre de Grace wasn't done. Flosser's 38-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Sumpter and a Harris PAT made it 28-20 with 3:26 to play. The Warriors attempted onsides kick was recovered by the Bobcats, but the Warriors defense shut down the Bobcats on fourth down.
From their own 18, Flosser and the Warriors made things interesting in the final 1:50. Three Flosser passes, a 17-yard run by Jasai Stansbury (11 carries, 62 yards) and a couple more Flosser runs had the Warriors at the Bel Air 18 with :47 to play.
Stansbury ran six yards on first down, but the Bobcats defense stepped up and forced three incomplete passes from Flosser to end the threat and the game. The final pass was batted down by Sam Bonomo.
Bel Air's win secured a spot in the Class 4A North region playoffs. Even with the loss, Havre de Grace is also alive in the 1A North region playoffs.
Hawks shut out Eagles
Playing a for possible playoff spot in 3A North, North Harford (7-3) blanked Aberdeen (5-5). The win should get the Hawks into the playoff field, jumping over Douglass of Baltimore City, which lost to Dunbar Friday afternoon.
Cole Dickerson carried the ball 28 times for 215 yards and all three North Harford touchdowns. JT Kidd added 86 yards on 21 carries and Paul Keeney was three for three on extra-point kicks.
Rams beat Mustangs
Edgewood (3-3, 6-4) closed out a winning season with a 14-13 Chesapeake win over host C. Milton Wright (2-4, 3-7).The Rams led 7-0 at halftime:
Derrick Delilly and AJ Barmer each had a rushing touchdown. Herb Parham and Mike Johnson led the way defensively with six tackles apiece and Mike Johnson and Daryl Cooper each had an interception.
Cougars finish with win
Fallston (4-6) closed its year on a good note, beating visiting Kent County, 42-27, in non-league play.
Quarterback Brady McMaines ran for two scores and passed for another, while Scott Dettloff also found the end zone twice.
Other scores
In other week 10 action, Joppatowne (3-4, 3-7) lost at Bo Manor (5-2, 7-3), 19-14, in Susquehanna Division play, which may have cost the Mariners a playoff spot in 1A North. Also in Susquehanna play, Patterson Mill (3-4, 3-7) beat host Harford Tech (3-4, 5-5), 24-14. In MIAA B Conference play, John Carroll (1-5, 1-9) lost at Curley, 35-33.