Hurricane holds on to Defeat St. Albans 38-28

This one should never had gotten as exciting as it did.

Hurricane stormed out to a commanding 24-0 lead in what had the looks of a blowout. When the Redskins went up 31-6 Hurricane fans seemed more interested in following scores from other games around the state, as they anxiously attempted to figure out next week's playoff opponent.

A funny thing happened along the way.......St. Albans made a frantic comeback to pull as close as 31-28.

But let's back things up a bit. After a questionable and unsuccessful fake punt from inside their own 20, St. Albans gave Hurricane great field position. The Redskins said thank you very much as Payton Lunsford scored on his only carry of the game, an 11 yard run.

The Red Dragons gave the Redskins another red zone opportunity moments later when a botched snap on their next punt led to a Tim McCutchen 24 yard FG and a 10-0 Hurricane lead.

Meanwhile the Redskins defense was making life miserable for Robert Alexander Jr. The pressure on Alexander was constant as J.T. Cooper had 2 1st quarter sacks. St. Albans had little to no success running the ball and total only 49 yards on 30 carries for the game.

Hurricane closed the quarter with a Christian Hill (24-176) 1 run TD run and a 17-0 lead.

The 2nd quarter began with another defensive stop, and on the ensuing possession Freshman Jordan Williams (9-49), who saw his most action of the season, capped the drive with a 3 yard td run to put Hurricane in front 24-0.

At this point Hurricane had showed just how good they can be. A dominating defense and a powerful running game behind a stout offensive line led by one of the toughest backs in the MSAC. With a just enough passing from a potential potent aerial attack, and the Redskins display the look of a team posed for a deep playoff run.

However from that point forward, the Redskins once again revealed their dark side with turnovers, dropped passes, defensive lapses and poor special team play which led St. Albans

back into the game.

St. Albans took advantage of a Redskins' fumble to get on the board prior to halftime cutting the Skins lead to 24-6.

When Christian Hill scored his 2nd and the Redskins 4th rushing touchdown of the night to make the score 31-6 early in the 3rd quarter the game was well in hand, and some of the relatively small Senior Night crowd headed for the exists.

Scott Tinsley and his Red Dragons had other thoughts. After a Nathan Roy (10-22-104) pass was intercepted Robert Alexander Jr. (20-30-231 yards) threw his first td of the night to narrow the margin to 31-13 heading into the 4th quarter.

After the Red Dragons forced Hurricane to punt on their next drive, Alexander tossed his 2nd TD pass (and a 2pt conversion pass) to cut the Redskins advantage to 31-21. After their 2nd successful onside kick the Red Dragons were back in business with 8 minutes still remaining on the clock.

With momentum ridding shotgun, St. Albans once again march downfield and when Alexander scored on a QB sneak the Dragons were within 3 at 31-28, and those who were still in attendance were shocked and awed!

Thankfully Abel Cunningham skyed high to pull down the ensuing St. Albans on side kick and the Redskins had the ball.

Christian Hill, (a potential Kennedy Award candidate sometime over his future years at Hurricane), came to the Redskins rescue, running through lines opened by the Redskins Offensive line of Chase Ross, Dalton Geter and Seniors Michael Watson, Cole Runion and Tommy Butler.

Hill finished the drive with his 3rd TD of the game , a 35 yard run to finally ensure the Hurricane victory 38-28.

Payton Lunsford ( team leading 14 tackles) put the exclamation point on the victory with a sack of Alexander, which was Hurricane's 6th of the night.

Notes:

Senior Night saw Cam Patterson play his most productive game of the season with 10 tackles and a fumble recovery.

Senior Bo Adkins lead the Skins with 4 receptions for 51 yards, while Seniors Dakota Williams 3-31 and Curon Cordon 2-17 also were on the receiving end of Roy passes.