Halifax Academy wins rivalry
Halifax Academy held their ground at home against Northeast/Hobgood Academy, winning their rivalry game 36-26.
The game began auspiciously for NHA as an interception by Michael Smith allowed the team to drive for a first down. Running back JT Simmons was able to make a run for a touchdown on the second down, bringing the score to 6-0. However, Halifax Academy was not behind long as Donovyn Gary made an interception followed by a 25 yard run, eventually bringing the ball to the 5-yard line to be followed shortly by a touchdown and 2-point conversion, bringing the score to 8-6 with almost six minutes left in the quarter.
Not to be outdone, Simmons caught a pass and ran 55 yards for NHA’s second touchdown of the night with four minutes left in the quarter for a score of 12-8. NHA then recovered the ball on the next play and pushed down the field only to have their touchdown pass broken up by Gary.
Halifax got off to a roaring start in the second quarter, with Jared Byrum intercepting the ball and setting up the Vikings’ next touchdown, bringing the score to 14-12 with 11 minutes left in the half. NHA took the ball, with Simmons making a 31-yard run, but found themselves stopped by Halifax’s defense. After the teams traded punts in an effort to erase one another’s progress, Gary broke the stalemate, running 65 yards for a touchdown, bringing the score to 20-12 with five minutes left in the half.
A pass from NHA’s Ryan Rowe to Curtis Faulkner set Simmons up for another run, allowing NHA to bring the scores almost even at 20-18 at the half.
NHA’s coach Brandon Lanier said he felt much the same at the half as he always does.
“Making some adjustments,” he said. “We’re still learning and getting better.”
Halifax’s Pete Edwards offered his team praise and criticism in equal measure.
“We’re glad to be ahead but we beat ourselves in the first half with some bad pass coverage,” he said. “We were glad to get out of that up by two.”
The next half began with a hard tackle by Byrum followed shortly by an interception to give the ball to Halifax. The two teams held each other firm until an 86-yard touchdown run by Gary broke the stalemate with less than a minute left in the quarter.
The fourth quarter began with the ball in NHA’s possession but Halifax quickly gained control with an interception. Eventually, Gary broke through for yet another touchdown, running 30 yards. A conversion brought the score to 36-18. With less than three minutes left in the game, NHA’s quarterback, Tay Mosley, who refused to leave the field in spite of multiple tackles and cramps, made a 30-yard run, setting NHA up with a second down at the goal line, leading to a touchdown and conversion by Rowe. The final minutes ran out with Halifax taking a knee, the game ending with a score of 36-26.
Edwards congratulated both teams on a game well played.
“Both teams got after one another,” he said. “I had some guys step up tonight who hadn’t been getting play time and stepped up.
“We made the plays when we had to,” he added.
Lanier, in spite of the loss focused on the improvements his team was making.
“We’re getting better and better, every day, every practice,” he said.
Northeast/Hobgood Academy plays again Sept. 29, facing Halifax Academy again on their home turf.
Halifax Academy plays again Friday, facing Bethel Christian at home.
- By John Dixon jdixon@rrdailyherald.com
Halifax Academy held their ground at home against Northeast/Hobgood Academy, winning their rivalry game 36-26.
The game began auspiciously for NHA as an interception by Michael Smith allowed the team to drive for a first down. Running back JT Simmons was able to make a run for a touchdown on the second down, bringing the score to 6-0. However, Halifax Academy was not behind long as Donovyn Gary made an interception followed by a 25 yard run, eventually bringing the ball to the 5-yard line to be followed shortly by a touchdown and 2-point conversion, bringing the score to 8-6 with almost six minutes left in the quarter.
Not to be outdone, Simmons caught a pass and ran 55 yards for NHA’s second touchdown of the night with four minutes left in the quarter for a score of 12-8. NHA then recovered the ball on the next play and pushed down the field only to have their touchdown pass broken up by Gary.
Halifax got off to a roaring start in the second quarter, with Jared Byrum intercepting the ball and setting up the Vikings’ next touchdown, bringing the score to 14-12 with 11 minutes left in the half. NHA took the ball, with Simmons making a 31-yard run, but found themselves stopped by Halifax’s defense. After the teams traded punts in an effort to erase one another’s progress, Gary broke the stalemate, running 65 yards for a touchdown, bringing the score to 20-12 with five minutes left in the half.
A pass from NHA’s Ryan Rowe to Curtis Faulkner set Simmons up for another run, allowing NHA to bring the scores almost even at 20-18 at the half.
NHA’s coach Brandon Lanier said he felt much the same at the half as he always does.
“Making some adjustments,” he said. “We’re still learning and getting better.”
Halifax’s Pete Edwards offered his team praise and criticism in equal measure.
“We’re glad to be ahead but we beat ourselves in the first half with some bad pass coverage,” he said. “We were glad to get out of that up by two.”
The next half began with a hard tackle by Byrum followed shortly by an interception to give the ball to Halifax. The two teams held each other firm until an 86-yard touchdown run by Gary broke the stalemate with less than a minute left in the quarter.
The fourth quarter began with the ball in NHA’s possession but Halifax quickly gained control with an interception. Eventually, Gary broke through for yet another touchdown, running 30 yards. A conversion brought the score to 36-18. With less than three minutes left in the game, NHA’s quarterback, Tay Mosley, who refused to leave the field in spite of multiple tackles and cramps, made a 30-yard run, setting NHA up with a second down at the goal line, leading to a touchdown and conversion by Rowe. The final minutes ran out with Halifax taking a knee, the game ending with a score of 36-26.
Edwards congratulated both teams on a game well played.
“Both teams got after one another,” he said. “I had some guys step up tonight who hadn’t been getting play time and stepped up.
“We made the plays when we had to,” he added.
Lanier, in spite of the loss focused on the improvements his team was making.
“We’re getting better and better, every day, every practice,” he said.
Northeast/Hobgood Academy plays again Sept. 29, facing Halifax Academy again on their home turf.
Halifax Academy plays again Friday, facing Bethel Christian at home.
