Football: Hawks hang on to edge Gladiators in overtime, 21-20

Glenelg had a chance to win a game that would essentially clinch a share of the county title, and the Gladiators took it. After scoring a game-tying touchdown on a 4th and 8 pass from Mark Darden to Ben Carta in overtime, the Gladiators attempted the two-point conversion for the win.

Darden scrambled, dodging tacklers from one sideline to the other, but was eventually brought down behind the line of scrimmage for the win, as River Hill (7-2) held on to defeat visiting Glenelg (7-2), 21-20 in overtime Friday night.

"Defensively it all came down to that last play ... we had great coverage, he looked this way and looked that way and eventually got him tripped up," said River Hill coach Brian Van Deusen, who predicted that the win earned his team home field advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. "It's a great win for us ... this was like a playoff game."

"They scored that touchdown and I told everyone that we had to come together," said River Hill defensive captain Riley Davis. "We covered pretty well and (Darden) started running around and we had to just contain him because he's really elusive."

The game was an emotional roller coaster for the Gladiators, who watched as junior Nick Crabill was carted off in an ambulance halfway through the third quarter, after Glenelg fumbled the ball into the River Hill end zone on first and goal from the four-yard line.

River Hill recovered the ball for a touchback.

Initial reports were that the ambulance was precautionary, and Crabill was expected to make a full recovery.

"They took Nicky in for precautionary X-rays. I think he's going to be fine, but our thoughts and prayers are just out for him," coach Butch Schaffer said. "We played as hard as we could and our kids have nothing to be ashamed of."

The Hawks had scored on each of their first two drives on a five-yard run by Aaron Wells and a 20-yard pass from Raamah Vaughn to Randall Lawson. Glenelg came away with a pair of Luke Brister field goals (27 and 37 yards) in the first half.

Wells (10 carries, 118 yards, TD) was sidelined the entire second half with a twisted ankle.

The Gladiators defense, seemingly inspired by its fallen teammate, held River Hill scoreless in the second half.

The Gladiators then converted on a fake field goal attempt on fourth and six from their own 42-yard line, as punter Colin Randle connected with Ben Carta for a 24-yard pass and a first down. Eight plays later, Darden scored on a five-yard run, and ran into the end zone again for the game tying two-point conversion with just over five minutes remaining.

River Hill's Davis Grove just missed a 42-yard field goal as time expired in regulation, but his extra point — after a one-yard run by Vaughn - in overtime proved to be the game winner.

The win was the fifth in a row for the Hawks, who lost consecutive games for the first time in a decade in mid-September, turning the ball over 11 times in back-to-back losses to Atholton (14-0) and Hammond (12-9).

River Hill did not turn the ball over at all on Friday night.

"We're starting to click and I hope it sets the tone for the rest of our season," Davis said. "We showed a lot of heart tonight and hopefully that translates into the playoffs."

At 7-1 entering the week, Atholton now has a chance to win out for sole possession of the Howard County title.

Last year, River Hill defeated Glenelg 14-7 in week nine of the regular season. The Gladiators finished 5-5, while River Hill finished 10-2, advancing to the regional championship, where the Hawks lost to eventual state champion Wilde Lake.

G (7-2) 3 3 0 8 6 - 20

RH (7-2) 7 7 0 0 7 - 21

First quarter

RH: Wells 5 run (Grove kick), 10:02

G: Brister 27 FG, 1:09.

Second quarter

RH: Lawson 20 pass from Vaughn (Grove kick), 8:29.

G: Brister 37 FG, 4:48.

Fourth quarter

G: Darden 5 run (Darden run), 5:14.

Overtime

RH: Vaughn 1 run (Grove kick).

G: Carta 8 pass from Darden (run failed).