Highland Springs Shutouts Hanover
Over the past few years, since Hanover established themselves as a contender in the Richmond Region, the clashes with Highland Springs have been hard fought battles. That is until tonight Tonight the Hawks fell in a shutout to Highland Springs 20-0. It marked the first shutout for the Springers over Hanover since 2006; it also marked the largest defeat since that 34-0 win.
The Hawks first possession of the night was indicative of how their night would go. The Hawks benefitted from a pass interference call against the Springers and on the next play Clayton Cheatham fumbled the ball and Highland Springs defense recovered it. It only took four plays for the Springers to get into the endzone with a Marcus Taylor 27-yard touchdown run. The Hawks defense came up with a block on the PAT but the Springers were on the board.
Ironically enough this season the Hawks MO has been the run game but tonight the Springers defense did all they had to do to stop that run game and it was the run game of the Springers that would do in the Hawks.
Hanover had several missed opportunities that seemed to be the theme for them this night. They had two Marshall Flippin field goal attempts fail. The first coming after the Springers first score of the night. The other came in the third quarter. The Hawks saw a promising drive in the second quarter already down 20-0 come up short. The Hawks marched fifty-two yards to the 10 yard line of Highland springs but the Hawks were unable to get the first down and the drive came to an abrupt end. Just before the fourth quarter the Hawks again seemed to be moving the ball when Brooks Coombs coughed up the ball. The Hawks were able to hang on to the ball but the fumble came on fourth down and the Hawks drive again stalled. That was indeed the theme for the Hawks on offense all night long as the Springers defense came up with big plays, big stands when needed and limited the effectiveness of the run game of Hanover.
The Springers did not struggle on offense. Sure they were shutout in the second half but the Springers were on fire in the first half, particularly the first quarter. Highland Springs scored on their first two possessions of the night, the first with Marcus Taylor punching it in and the second with Juwan Carter on a 1-yard quarterback keeper. It was on their fourth possession of the night they got their third and final score with a KC Hinton 4-yard touchdown run. The Springers had the ball just once more before halftime and was unable to make any headway as far as moving the ball down the field. In their first five possessions' of the night, they had scored three times. In the second half of the game, the Springers would have the ball four times and never come close to scoring again. While the Hawks offense was struggling, their defense was up to the task in the second half as they shut out the Springers in the last two quarters of play.
On the Hawks final possession of the night, quarterback Clayton Cheatham came out of a pile shaking his hand, clearly in pain. He walked off the field and never did return. Marcus Bazala took over at quarterback for the remainder of the possession and night for that matter. While losing the game does sting, if Cheatham is out for any time, the Hawks could be in trouble.
Trouble is possibly the Springers after tonight's performance. Every week they just keep getting it done and tonight they did so with the defense which they have done all season as well as the offense. The Springers have playmakers across the field on offense and tonight those playmakers came through in the run game but any given week, you just don't know what the Springers offensive game plan will be and that is problematic for the Capital District.
Trouble will be what the Hawks get into next week in their neighborhood rivalry game with the Atlee Raiders. As for the Springers, they will look to improve to 5-0 against the Glen Allen Jaguars who have dropped four straight.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st QTR-
10:09- Marcus Taylor 27-yard touchdown run, PAT blocked; Highland Springs 6-0.
3:15- Juwan carter 1-yard touchdown run, PAT good; Highland Springs 13-0.
2nd QTR-
6:00- KC Hinton 4-yard touchdown run, PAT good; Highland Springs 20-0.
3rd QTR-
4th QTR-
AFTERTHOUGHTS
Having watched the Springers tonight and the way they played, it is time that we start talking about this Springers team in the same fashion in which we look at Hermitage and Bird this season.
Quarterbacks will not want to see me at their games Last week I was at the Hermitage-Varina game in which quarterback Rashad Robinson left the game injured. This week, late in the fourth quarter, Clayton Cheatham sustained an injury to the hand which at this point we do not know how sever it is yet.
Student sections have become the rage at high school football games over the last few years so you can imagine my shock when the Hawks Next was not in attendance for this game.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
H. Springs Offense- RB, Marcus Taylor officially about 78 yards on six carries. Also had a 59-yard touchdown brought back due to a penalty.
H. Springs Defense- SS/OLB, KC Hinton, I counted four tackles but there were many more as part of a team effort.
Hanover Offense- QB, Clayton Cheatham before leaving the game late in the fourth with an injury had roughly 100 yard rushing, 27 yards passing despite some turnovers.
Hanover Defense- Hanover's Second Half Defense, kept the Springers scoreless in the second half after giving up 20 points in the first half.
EXTRA POINTS
From 2008-2012 the Hawks scored at least once in every game, over the past two seasons they have been shutout twice. Highland Springs this season, Atlee last season.
Highland Springs is 5-0 for the second time in three seasons.
Over the past few years, since Hanover established themselves as a contender in the Richmond Region, the clashes with Highland Springs have been hard fought battles. That is until tonight Tonight the Hawks fell in a shutout to Highland Springs 20-0. It marked the first shutout for the Springers over Hanover since 2006; it also marked the largest defeat since that 34-0 win.
The Hawks first possession of the night was indicative of how their night would go. The Hawks benefitted from a pass interference call against the Springers and on the next play Clayton Cheatham fumbled the ball and Highland Springs defense recovered it. It only took four plays for the Springers to get into the endzone with a Marcus Taylor 27-yard touchdown run. The Hawks defense came up with a block on the PAT but the Springers were on the board.
Ironically enough this season the Hawks MO has been the run game but tonight the Springers defense did all they had to do to stop that run game and it was the run game of the Springers that would do in the Hawks.
Hanover had several missed opportunities that seemed to be the theme for them this night. They had two Marshall Flippin field goal attempts fail. The first coming after the Springers first score of the night. The other came in the third quarter. The Hawks saw a promising drive in the second quarter already down 20-0 come up short. The Hawks marched fifty-two yards to the 10 yard line of Highland springs but the Hawks were unable to get the first down and the drive came to an abrupt end. Just before the fourth quarter the Hawks again seemed to be moving the ball when Brooks Coombs coughed up the ball. The Hawks were able to hang on to the ball but the fumble came on fourth down and the Hawks drive again stalled. That was indeed the theme for the Hawks on offense all night long as the Springers defense came up with big plays, big stands when needed and limited the effectiveness of the run game of Hanover.
The Springers did not struggle on offense. Sure they were shutout in the second half but the Springers were on fire in the first half, particularly the first quarter. Highland Springs scored on their first two possessions of the night, the first with Marcus Taylor punching it in and the second with Juwan Carter on a 1-yard quarterback keeper. It was on their fourth possession of the night they got their third and final score with a KC Hinton 4-yard touchdown run. The Springers had the ball just once more before halftime and was unable to make any headway as far as moving the ball down the field. In their first five possessions' of the night, they had scored three times. In the second half of the game, the Springers would have the ball four times and never come close to scoring again. While the Hawks offense was struggling, their defense was up to the task in the second half as they shut out the Springers in the last two quarters of play.
On the Hawks final possession of the night, quarterback Clayton Cheatham came out of a pile shaking his hand, clearly in pain. He walked off the field and never did return. Marcus Bazala took over at quarterback for the remainder of the possession and night for that matter. While losing the game does sting, if Cheatham is out for any time, the Hawks could be in trouble.
Trouble is possibly the Springers after tonight's performance. Every week they just keep getting it done and tonight they did so with the defense which they have done all season as well as the offense. The Springers have playmakers across the field on offense and tonight those playmakers came through in the run game but any given week, you just don't know what the Springers offensive game plan will be and that is problematic for the Capital District.
Trouble will be what the Hawks get into next week in their neighborhood rivalry game with the Atlee Raiders. As for the Springers, they will look to improve to 5-0 against the Glen Allen Jaguars who have dropped four straight.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st QTR-
10:09- Marcus Taylor 27-yard touchdown run, PAT blocked; Highland Springs 6-0.
3:15- Juwan carter 1-yard touchdown run, PAT good; Highland Springs 13-0.
2nd QTR-
6:00- KC Hinton 4-yard touchdown run, PAT good; Highland Springs 20-0.
3rd QTR-
4th QTR-
AFTERTHOUGHTS
Having watched the Springers tonight and the way they played, it is time that we start talking about this Springers team in the same fashion in which we look at Hermitage and Bird this season.
Quarterbacks will not want to see me at their games Last week I was at the Hermitage-Varina game in which quarterback Rashad Robinson left the game injured. This week, late in the fourth quarter, Clayton Cheatham sustained an injury to the hand which at this point we do not know how sever it is yet.
Student sections have become the rage at high school football games over the last few years so you can imagine my shock when the Hawks Next was not in attendance for this game.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
H. Springs Offense- RB, Marcus Taylor officially about 78 yards on six carries. Also had a 59-yard touchdown brought back due to a penalty.
H. Springs Defense- SS/OLB, KC Hinton, I counted four tackles but there were many more as part of a team effort.
Hanover Offense- QB, Clayton Cheatham before leaving the game late in the fourth with an injury had roughly 100 yard rushing, 27 yards passing despite some turnovers.
Hanover Defense- Hanover's Second Half Defense, kept the Springers scoreless in the second half after giving up 20 points in the first half.
EXTRA POINTS
From 2008-2012 the Hawks scored at least once in every game, over the past two seasons they have been shutout twice. Highland Springs this season, Atlee last season.
Highland Springs is 5-0 for the second time in three seasons.
