Alex Love's 26-yard touchdown run with 3:38 left to play lifted Bel Air to a 28-22 win over host Havre de Grace in UCBAC Chesapeake Division action at James R. Harris Stadium Friday night.
Aberdeen, Edgewood and Patterson Mill were also winners Friday night, but the big story was Fallston beating North Harford to stay unbeaten and run its record to 9-0.
In the Bel Air – Havre de Grace game, Love's run capped a six-play, 68-yard drive by the Bobcats, who had trailed, 22-15, early in the fourth quarter.
Bel Air led early, taking the opening kick off and scoring in eight plays. Michael Adams scored on a nine-yard run, but the extra-point was blocked by Havre de Grace's James Smith.
Havre de Grace wasted little time going ahead, also scoring with its first possession. The Warriors needed just four plays, but one of them was a 37-yard pass from Lavell McCullers to Chris Askew. Two downs later, Jahre Jordan took a handoff 14 yards for the score. Freshman kicker Jordan Stewart put the Warriors ahead with his first of two extra points.
Bel Air went back ahead before the first quarter ended on a 25-yard scoring run by Joseph Denver. The conversion for two points failed, leaving the Bobcats ahead, 12-7.
Bel Air increased its lead by three with the only points in the second quarter. Denver booted a 30-yard field goal with 8:30 to play in the half.
Havre de Grace used a McCullers interception to begin a drive that appeared destined for points. A 22-yard pass to Askew put the Warriors at the Bel Air 5-yard line with 36 seconds to play in the half. McCullers, however, fumbled the snap and Jeff Martindale fell on the loose ball for Bel Air.
The Warriors did get points to begin the second half, moving 55 yards on seven plays. McCullers hit Askew for 27 yards and the score. He then tossed a two-point pass to Smith, tying the game at 15.
The Warriors then retook the lead two plays into the fourth quarter as Smith took a quick out pass, cut to the sideline and outran the Bobcats for a 63-yard touchdown. Stewart's conversion had the Warriors ahead, 22-15, but Bel Air had an answer.
The Bobcats took the ensuing kickoff and marched 80 yards in nine plays to tie the game. Quarterback Ryan Monardo and Love had big runs, but it was a 16-yard pass to Ben Webber that scored the points. Denver's kick tied the game.
Havre de Grace then turned the ball over on downs, setting up the winning Bel Air drive.
The Warriors did have a last drive, but a 18-yard sack forced the Warriors into third and fourth downs and 30 yards to go. Both passes fell incomplete.
Bel Air improved to 2-3 in division and 3-6 overall, while Havre de Grace fell to 2-4 in division and 4-5 overall.
EDGEWOOD beats North East
Noel Spencer and Mason Parker each ran for more than 100 yards to lead Edgewood past visiting North East, 25-12, in Susquehanna play.
Spencer ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns and Parker added 102 yards and one touchdown. Spencer scored on runs of 72 and 34 yards, while Parker peeled off a 61-yard score.
Kaleb Myers added the final points from the defensive side of the ball, taking a interception 20 yards for the pick six.
The Rams are 3-3 in their division and 3-6 overall.
Rising Sun beats HARFORD TECH
Harford Tech quarterback Austin Nierwinski threw for more than 200 yards and scored four touchdowns, but it wasn't enough to beat visiting Rising Sun. The Tigers scored a lot of points, rolling to a 58-34 win over Harford Tech in a Susquehanna contest.
Nierwinski threw two touchdowns, one 70 yards and the other 26, to Isiah Gillis. Nierwinski also passed to Dennis Green for a 24-yard score and added a one-yard touchdown run for his fourth touchdown of the game.
Gary Pink ran five yards for Harford Tech's other touchdown.
Zac Taylor caught a pass for a two-point conversion and Colin Riley kicked two extra-points in the loss. The Cobras fell to 1-5 in their division and 1-8 overall.
ABERDEEN beats C. MILTON WRIGHT
The Aberdeen Eagles extended their winning streak to three by dispatching host C. Milton Wright football, 40-8.
With the victory, the Eagles improved to 7-2 on the year, while the Mustangs fell to 2-7.
The Eagles scored most of their points in the first half and led, 34-0, at the intermission.
"We came out and executed pretty well tonight," Johnny Brooks, Aberdeen's head coach, said. "[CMW] looked very young, but we were also playing our game, sticking to the plan. Now, we're looking ahead to next week, when we play Fallston. They're playing really well right now, so that will be a tough game." Aberdeen travels to undefeated Fallston for a 7 p.m. game next Friday.
Leading the way for the Eagles was receiver Christian Carpenter, who caught touchdown passes of 50, 15 and 10 yards in the victory. Overall, Carpenter reeled in six passes for more than 100 receiving yards.
Olajuwon Brown was Aberdeen's leader in the backfield, rushing for a pair of touchdowns.
Aberdeen quarterback Kenny Faulcon connected on 10 of 12 passing attempts for three touchdowns and more than 200 yards, after tossing an interception on the Eagles first play of the game.
"Kenny had that pick the first time he tried to throw the ball," Brooks said. "But, that didn't matter. He calmed down and started moving the ball when we got it back."
The Eagles' sixth touchdown came when linebacker Eric Briggs scooped up a CMW fumble and returned it 40 yards for the score.
Brooks is already looking to next week.
"I haven't had a chance to check out Fallston very closely yet, but they do look good," Brooks said. "It really just depends on how we're playing though. If we're executing on both sides of the ball, we'll be okay."
The Mustangs final regular season game will be a 7 p.m. game next Friday at Bel Air.
PATRIOTS beat St. Mary's in OT
John Carroll needed overtime to beat St. Mary's, 31-24, under the lights in Bel Air.
Montell Martin scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime on a 10-yard run. Martin opened the scoring in the second quarter, hauling in a 24-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Lewis.
Martin also scored on a 43-yard run in the third quarter, while Austin Markley raced 70 yards with a kick-off return touchdown.
Patriots kicker Alex Gambrell put the Patriots in position to win in overtime, kicking a 37-yard game-tying field goal with :07 left. Gambrell was also good on four extra-points.
PATTERSON MILL beats Elkton
The Patterson Mill Huskies also won Friday, going on the road and beating the Elkton Golden Elks, 34-13.
With the win, the Huskies moved to 8-1 on the season and 5-1 in Susquehanna (lower) Division play.
The Huskies host Rising Sun at 7 p.m. next Friday in their regular-season ending game.