In another long-standing Route 40 Rivalry, this installment just a little more special because both teams had new head coaches who had coached together for a long time before this season, the Aberdeen Eagles scored two quick touchdowns in the third quarter and held on to beat the visiting Havre de Grace Warriors, 21-12, Thursday night.
In other Harford County high school football action Thursday night, the one week annually that each team plays on a short week because schools are closed Friday for the state teachers convention, unbeaten Fallston and once-beaten Patterson Mill were big winners. Harford County's other teams didn't do nearly as well. Bel Air, Edgewood and Harford Tech were all shut out.
Aberdeen (3-1, 6-2) scored two touchdowns in just over a minute late in the third quarter to slip past visiting Havre de Grace 21-12 in Chesapeake action.
The Eagles defense stuffed the Warriors on a fourth and one at the Warriors 25-yard line, setting up the first of the two scores. A fumble and a loss of seven yards came on first down, but quarterback Kenny Faulcon erased the problem with a 19-yard completion to Christian Carpenter on fourth and 10. On the next play, Faulcon passed to Chavez Cheatham for a 6-yard score.
A mere 64 seconds later, Mo Harris scooped up a Warrior fumble and returned the ball 30 yards for a score. Austin Bonsall kicked extra points following both scores for a 21-6 lead with 40 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Warriors answered on the ensuing drive, covering 82 yards in eight plays. The big play was quarterback Lavell McCullers hitting James Smith for a 43-yard touchdown pass and catch.
The fake for two points on the conversion failed, forcing the Warriors to need two more scores with 9:42 to play. The Warriors had one more possession which looked promising, but a fumble at the Aberdeen 2-yard line sealed the win for the Eagles.
It was an Aberdeen turnover to start the game that allowed Havre de Grace to take a lead. McCullers scored on a keeper, but the extra-point was botched.
Aberdeen matched the score later in the opening quarter as Faulcon and Carpenter hooked up for a 40-yard score. Bonsall's kick gave the Eagles a 7-6 lead.
For Havre de Grace (2-3, 4-4), the game could have been decided in the first half when Aberdeen turned the ball over four more times, but the Warriors were unable to produce any points.
FALLSTON beats JOPPATOWNE
The undefeated Fallston Cougars (8-0 overall, 4-0 Chesapeake) picked up their eighth straight victory on Thursday night, pummeling the Joppatowne Mariners, 43-8.
The visiting Mariners dropped to 4-4 overall, and 1-4 in the Chesapeake Division.
Fallston scored the first time it touched the ball, with Sean Lewns capping a drive to the Joppatowne nine-yard line with a rushing touchdown.
Joppatowne scored its lone touchdown following Fallston's second possession, which ended with a fumble.
After the Mariners put eight points up, Fallston answered quickly, with Bryan Jirsa returning the ensuing kickoff 84 yards for the score.
Before the half time break, Fallston's Ryan Umpleby scored on an eight-yard run and a 49-yard reception to help the Cougars take a 28-8 lead at the half.
Connor Davis caught a nine-yard pass from quarterback John Hetterman for Fallston's fifth score.
Umpleby scored his third touchdown on a 13-yard run in the second half.
PATTERSON MILL beats North East
The Patterson Mill Huskies beat the visiting North East Indians, 27-0, to jump to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the Susquehanna (lower) Division.
Quarterback Luke DePasquale, who completed 14 of 18 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns, led the way for the Huskies.
Ryan Jacobs led the Patterson Mill receiving corps with 167 yards on five catches, including two for touchdowns.
Justin Palmer had five catches for 59 yards and one touchdown. Mike Reed had a pair of catches for 52 yards for the winners.
Deonte Alston, rushed for 95 yards on 16 carries, for Patterson Mill. Mike Samra ran the ball four times, gaining 30 yards and scoring a touchdown.
Chad Hall led the Huskies in tackles with eight. Justin Gunn had seven tackles, four that forced North East to lose yardage. Chris Livingston had five tackles and 1.5 sacks for Patterson Mill.
BEL AIR shut out by New Town
The Bel Air Bobcats were shut out, 32-0, by visiting New Town.
The loss, Bel Air's third straight after a Week Five victory over Joppatowne, dropped the Bobcats to 2-6 on the season.
EDGEWOOD, HARFORD TECH shut out
It was a bad night for two Harford County teams who matched up with Cecil County opponents in Susquehanna Division play. Edgewood (2-3, 2-6) was shutout at unbeaten Perryville, 41-0. Harford Tech (1-4, 1-7) was also blanked, losing to visiting Elkton, 26-0.