Dylan Hamman threw for 189 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Skyline Hawks came back from a 14-3 halftime deficit to defeat the Warren County Wildcats by a final score of 24-21. In addition, Hamman set the Skyline single-season passing yardage record with 1,768 yards.
The Hawks started off the scoring on the opening drive. Hamman connected with Jay Roy for an 18 yard completion, and later found Brandon Wells for a 24 yard reception. The drive stalled at the Wildcat 16, and Skyline settled for a 33 yard field goal from A.J. Dueweke with 8:06 left in the first quarter.
Warren County and Skyline exchanged some three and outs, before Cam Ford came up with an interception for the Wildcats and returned it to the Skyline 38. Three plays later, Joseph Rutherford ran it in from 8 yards out to put Warren County up 7-3 as time expired in the first quarter.
Warren County and Skyline exchanged punts to start the 2nd quarter, and Skyline appeared to be winning the field position battle when Ryan Scott’s punt was downed at the Warren County 4 yard line. But Robert Rutherford on the first play from scrimmage threw a deep ball that was tipped by a Hawk defender and then was caught by Cam Ford for a 33 yard gain. After a time-consuming drive, Robert Rutherford scored on an 8 yard QB keeper with 1:13 left in the half to put the Wildcats up 14-3.
Skyline had a chance to put points on the board before halftime, as Brandon Wells returned the kickoff all the way to the Warren County 35 yard line. Skyline advanced the ball down to the 14 yard line on a 19 yard run by Brad Halsey, but then an incomplete pass, a sack and a fumble pushed the Hawks outside of field goal range and time expired to end the half.
Skyline forced a three and out from Warren County to start the 3rd quarter, and then scored on a 7-play 65 yard drive, capped off by a 7 yard touchdown run by Quentin Diggs. That cut the Hawk deficit to 14-10 with 6:18 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Warren County then put together a 15 play drive that lasted all the way into the 4th quarter, when Robert Rutherford hit Brendan McMackin with a 30 yard touchdown pass to put the Wildcats up 21-10 with 11:01 left in the 4th quarter.
With their backs against the wall, the Hawks moved the ball quickly down the field. The big plays in the drive were a 14 yard pass to Jay Roy, a 10 yard run by Diggs, a 16 yard completion to Wells, and then a 32 yard touchdown pass to Ryan Abel to break the passing record and bring Skyline back within four, 21-17, with 8:41 left in the game.
Skyline only allowed one first down on Warren County’s next drive, and got the ball back with 4:38 remaining in the game. Starting at their own 33, Skyline got a 12 yard run from Diggs, a 37 yard completion to Wells, and then a 19 yard touchdown pass to Roy to put the Hawks ahead for good, 24-21 with 2:57 remaining.
Warren County looked as if they were going to fold, getting consecutive false starts to start their next drive, and then losing 11 yards on a play where a Wildcat lineman ended up catching the ball at Warren County’s 6 yard line, after it was tipped in the air by a Hawk defender. But facing 2nd and 31 from their six yard line, Rutherford found Daniel Spangler for a 43 yard reception that brought the ball near midfield with 1:35 remaining. Warren County continued to move the ball all the way to the Skyline 22, but were faced with a 4th and three. Rutherford’s pass towards the endzone was knocked down by Skyline defender Marcus Burke to seal the victory for the Hawks.
Quentin Diggs had 104 yards rushing for the Hawks, while Robert Rutherford threw for 171 yards and gained 108 yards on the ground as well for the Wildcats. Skyline will host Culpeper County next Friday in the first round of the playoffs.
The Hawks started off the scoring on the opening drive. Hamman connected with Jay Roy for an 18 yard completion, and later found Brandon Wells for a 24 yard reception. The drive stalled at the Wildcat 16, and Skyline settled for a 33 yard field goal from A.J. Dueweke with 8:06 left in the first quarter.
Warren County and Skyline exchanged some three and outs, before Cam Ford came up with an interception for the Wildcats and returned it to the Skyline 38. Three plays later, Joseph Rutherford ran it in from 8 yards out to put Warren County up 7-3 as time expired in the first quarter.
Warren County and Skyline exchanged punts to start the 2nd quarter, and Skyline appeared to be winning the field position battle when Ryan Scott’s punt was downed at the Warren County 4 yard line. But Robert Rutherford on the first play from scrimmage threw a deep ball that was tipped by a Hawk defender and then was caught by Cam Ford for a 33 yard gain. After a time-consuming drive, Robert Rutherford scored on an 8 yard QB keeper with 1:13 left in the half to put the Wildcats up 14-3.
Skyline had a chance to put points on the board before halftime, as Brandon Wells returned the kickoff all the way to the Warren County 35 yard line. Skyline advanced the ball down to the 14 yard line on a 19 yard run by Brad Halsey, but then an incomplete pass, a sack and a fumble pushed the Hawks outside of field goal range and time expired to end the half.
Skyline forced a three and out from Warren County to start the 3rd quarter, and then scored on a 7-play 65 yard drive, capped off by a 7 yard touchdown run by Quentin Diggs. That cut the Hawk deficit to 14-10 with 6:18 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Warren County then put together a 15 play drive that lasted all the way into the 4th quarter, when Robert Rutherford hit Brendan McMackin with a 30 yard touchdown pass to put the Wildcats up 21-10 with 11:01 left in the 4th quarter.
With their backs against the wall, the Hawks moved the ball quickly down the field. The big plays in the drive were a 14 yard pass to Jay Roy, a 10 yard run by Diggs, a 16 yard completion to Wells, and then a 32 yard touchdown pass to Ryan Abel to break the passing record and bring Skyline back within four, 21-17, with 8:41 left in the game.
Skyline only allowed one first down on Warren County’s next drive, and got the ball back with 4:38 remaining in the game. Starting at their own 33, Skyline got a 12 yard run from Diggs, a 37 yard completion to Wells, and then a 19 yard touchdown pass to Roy to put the Hawks ahead for good, 24-21 with 2:57 remaining.
Warren County looked as if they were going to fold, getting consecutive false starts to start their next drive, and then losing 11 yards on a play where a Wildcat lineman ended up catching the ball at Warren County’s 6 yard line, after it was tipped in the air by a Hawk defender. But facing 2nd and 31 from their six yard line, Rutherford found Daniel Spangler for a 43 yard reception that brought the ball near midfield with 1:35 remaining. Warren County continued to move the ball all the way to the Skyline 22, but were faced with a 4th and three. Rutherford’s pass towards the endzone was knocked down by Skyline defender Marcus Burke to seal the victory for the Hawks.
Quentin Diggs had 104 yards rushing for the Hawks, while Robert Rutherford threw for 171 yards and gained 108 yards on the ground as well for the Wildcats. Skyline will host Culpeper County next Friday in the first round of the playoffs.
