Hackett, Patriots Rally To Beat Judges 17-14
Just when things looked bleak, Park View's Josh Jones sparked the Patriots with a 45 yard interception return for a touchdown. Jones has been one of the most reliable performers for the Patriots in 2008.
Photo By: Jeff Schryver / Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Handley's Jeremiah Wilson continued his stellar play with two rushing touchdowns against the Patriots on Saturday. Wilson's performance wasn't enough though to lift the Judges past Park View.
Photo By: Jeff Schryver / Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Park View's Sawyer Hackett drops back late in the 4th quarter looking for a receiver in the end zone. Hackett's pass on this play found Drew Mason, and the rest was history. The Patriots won 17-14....
Photo By: Jeff Schryver / Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
WINCHESTER, VA - It's hard to believe that in week three of the 2008 season, the Park View Patriots would be facing a must win situation, but in fact that was the case. The Patriots didn't need to win for any other reason than to rebuild their confidence after a tough defeat last Friday to Jefferson in overtime.
Park View showed on Saturday that they had fight, and that any team that looks past them is in big trouble as they shocked the #10 ranked Handley Judges 17-14 in the final seconds.
Handley got on the scoreboard first when talented running back Jeremiah Wilson dashed to the end zone from 13 yards out to give the Judges the early 7-0 lead. The score was Wilson's 7th touchdown in the last two games.
Park View answered in the 2nd quarter when Patriot Robert Hayes tackled a Handley back for a safety to make the score 7-2. The Patriots threatened some on offense, but failed to score a touchdown in the first half, and both teams headed into the locker room with Handley leading 7-2.
The Patriots had trouble finishing drives in the 1st half, and that trend continued in the 3rd quarter. But just as Park View blinked, one of their most consistent playmakers stepped up to save the day on defense.
With just over eight minutes left in the 3rd quarter, cornerback Josh Jones stepped in front of a pass and raced to pay dirt, and his clutch interception gave the Patriots a 9-7 lead.
Handley answered early in the 4th quarter when Wilson got free again for his second touchdown of the game, and the Judges regained the lead 14-9. That lead looked like it might be enough for the Judges as time ticked away, but it turned out that the Patriots were left with one last chance, one last drive to save their season.
With just two minutes left on the clock, Patriot head coach Andy Hill put the game in the hands of quarterback Sawyer Hackett, who like many of his teammates, is rather green in experience in big games.
Hackett did his best John Elway imitation though, and calmly completed clutch pass after clutch pass to get the Patriots to the Handley 22 yard line with only 36 seconds left. Hackett then threw the biggest pass of his life, and it found its way to the hands of teammate Drew Mason, who pulled it in to give Park View a 15-14 lead.
The Patriots converted the two point conversion and Handley was faced with having to kick a field goal to tie or throw a few to the end zone for the win.
Handley got close enough to try a game winning field goal, but the Judges were unable to connect from over 40 yards away, and the Patriots left Winchester with a tremendous win.
After the game, head coach Andy Hill looked sun burned and tired, but he was more than pleased to leave with a win.
"I'm just really proud of our kids," Hill said. "It wasn't pretty today on offense, but I'm just proud of them for hanging in there."
Senior Brandon Absher compared this win to last year's win against Broad Run in the playoffs.
"This win felt like last year's win against Broad Run, and this is what we needed to get back on track," said Absher. "We should be good to go the rest of the way."
Park View improved to 1-2 with the win and will begin district play on September 26th after taking a week off this coming Friday. The Patriots will play Loudoun County in the district opener. Handley dropped to 2-1 with the loss.
Game Notes:
Handley's Jeremiah Wilson scored twice on Saturday to increase his two game total to 8 touchdowns. He scored 6 touchdowns last week against Loudoun County in a 49-21 win over the Raiders, and could be the area's leading scorer at season's end if he continues on this pace.
