It is perhaps the area's newest football rivalry, but already the Hereford-Perry Hall clash has an amazing history. Last night's 17-14 overtime victory by visiting Perry Hall only added to the legend.
"There was a lot of doubt; the Baltimore [radio] sports talk was all about how we were going to get blown out, how we weren't going to score," the Gators' David Steinbaugh said. "This victory showed we have a lot of heart."
The No. 9 Gators held No. 5 Hereford out of the end zone on four straight tries from inside the 5-yard line and stopped senior Nick DePaola at the 1-foot line on fourth down with 2:52 left to force overtime.
Steinbaugh hit a 19-yard field goal that turned out to be the game-winner. Hereford (2-2) missed a 39-yard field-goal attempt that would have forced a second overtime, allowing Perry Hall to jump to 4-0.
It was just another typical game night in the series.
In 2006, Perry Hall won, 10-7, on a last-second field goal. Last year, Hereford won, 28-25, with a last-second goal-line stand.
Overtime? Just part of the history.
"I'd be lying if I didn't say that when we were lifting weights and running this summer that this game wasn't on our minds," said Perry Hall coach Keith Robinson, who was coaching his first game in the series. "This win validates us."
Hereford coach Steve Turnbaugh said he was not disappointed in his team's play or effort.
"We gave it our best shot," Turnbaugh said. "Us not being able to put the ball in the end zone from the 1-foot line was the difference. This has been a great four-year rivalry. They've won three of the four, but every one of them has gone down to the last play of the game."
Hereford took the early lead on a score by Chris Amon on a 1-yard run, but Perry Hall stayed close with a 90-yard drive that closed the margin to 7-6 when Matt Wood recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown.
Bulls quarterback David Wood handed to DePaola for a 14-6 lead.
The Gators came back to tie the score in the third quarter on a 2-yard run by Justin Brisueno and a two-point conversion by Brandon Sofia with 7:31 left in the third.