Hawks score 29 straight points to defeat Lions and win first region title

SENOIA-In their first season of varsity football in 2006, the Heritage Hawks showed their inexperience as they manage to finish with a 1-9 record.

That was then, this is now as the Hawks won the first region championship Friday night with a 29-14 victory over the Trinity Christian Lions in a GISA Region 2-AAA contest played at McKnight Field.

Besides winning the region title, the Hawks improved to a program-high nine wins against a single defeat which surpassed last year’s record and they will host a first round playoff game against the Pinewood Christian Patriots who lost to Bulloch Academy 21-14 in Statesboro.

The Lions, in their second of playing 11-man football as well as participating in the Georgia Independent School Association, dropped to 6-4 overall and 3-2 in the region which earned them the region’s third seed and a trip to Perry to face the Westfield Hornets who is Region 1-AAA’s second seed.  

The Hawks appeared to continue their sluggish play from a week ago that led to a 38-35 loss to Tattnall Square as they opened the game with a fumble in their initial series and the Lions took advantage as fullback Mark Collier culminated a drive with a one-yard run through the middle of the Hawks’ defense with 8:05 remaining in the first quarter.

Trinity added to the lead with 8:35 remaining in the second quarter as a 13-yard completion by quarterback Connor Adams was followed by a 26 yard run by Jay Warner and the faithful was happy with the 14-0  cushion after the extra point attempt by Cole Houser was successful.

However, the Hawks overcame their struggles and began their rally behind the play of senior Candler Rich who ended a 10-play, 65-yard drive with a seven-yard run along the right sideline for a touchdown with 3:50 left in the first half.

In one of the stranger plays of the evening, the Hawks converted a two-point conversion as teammates Garrett Jones and Spencer Perry appeared to battle for the reception in the end zone with the latter eventually coming down with the ball.

The Lions threatened to answer the Hawks’ score as they started a drive at their own 35 yard line and behind the legs of Warner were able to get in the red zone with time running out.

However, the Hawks were able to make a goal line stand as Warner was knocked out of bounds at the one-yard line on fourth-and-goal and Heritage was able to run out the clock with the 14-8 deficit.

The Hawks took the lead on their initial series of the second half as they recovered an onside kick attempt by the Lions at midfield and Rich did most of the damage in the eight-play drive including a 25-yard run with 8:35 remaining in the third quarter and the Hawks took a 15-14 lead as Ben Dudley converted the extra point.

After holding the Lions on a three-and-out, the Hawks added to the lead as Joe Bonner scored on a one-yard quarterback keeper with a minute remaining in the third quarter and Dudley the extra point to give the Hawks a 22-14 advantage.

To the surprise of no one, the final score of the evening came from Rich as he caught a pass from Bonner at the Heritage 10 and raced past everyone for a 90-yard touchdown score 15 seconds into the final quarter.