Happy Homecoming: Bulldogs pick up first win on gridiron
HARRISBURG- Quarterback Isaac Crabb threw for three touchdowns and Harrisburg's defense didn't surrender a first down for nearly three quarters as the Bulldogs picked up a 40-29 Homecoming win over Massac County Friday night at Taylor Field. The victory snapped a four-game skid to open the season for HHS (1-4, 1-1 SIRR Ohio).
Junior Jack Martin caught two passes for 74 yards and two scores, while Jordan Dalton rushed for 61 yards and added two rushing touchdowns.
Harrisburg junior Will Holland broke a 90-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter and finished with 107 yards on the night.
"I thought we executed a lot better than we had in the previous couple of weeks," said Harrisburg head coach Gabe Angelly. "We ran the ball well which was able to set up our play action pass. Crabb threw the ball really well tonight. Jack Martin caught a couple of touchdown passes which was nice. Jordan Dalton, coming back from an injury, gets two touchdowns tonight and runs hard, and we were able to get a lot of guys touches."
Harrisburg opened up a 14-0 lead on Dalton's first score of the evening early in the second quarter before Massac County returned the ensuing kickoff 95-yards to close to within 14-7.
HHS would then go on to score 26-unanswered points and extended its lead to 40-7 early in the fourth quarter.
"Homecoming is always great," said Angelly. "You've got all of the fans, all of the class reunions going on and so to get that first win, the kids were excited about it. It was just a good victory all around, and it's great for the fans."
The Harrisburg defense was stingy for a majority of the evening after holding Massac County to negative total yards from scrimmage in the first half.
"We started all underclassmen on the offensive line thinking that they are just going to grow and get better, and I think physicality, strength, kind of impacted us there. We weren't able to move the ball," said Massac County head coach Jason Roper. "I thought defensively we played well at times. There was just some situational stuff where we'd give up a play that we shouldn't."
Roper is in his first season guiding the Massac County rebuild. The setback dropped the Patriots to 0-5 (0-2 SIRR Ohio). Roper spent nine seasons at the helm of the Harrisburg program and made six postseason appearances. He guided the 2012 club to the Class 4A semifinals and earned the last postseason victory for the Harrisburg.
"It's one of those things where it's not about me, it's about the kids," said Roper. "We just try to come up and do the job, coach the game, and you want your kids to be successful. We're getting better. I have family here and roots here and all of those things, and it was emotional, but at the same time, you try to do what's best for your kids and that was my focus."
Senior Zack Gibbs blocked a punt for the Bulldogs while Zack Cowsert connected on three PAT's on special teams. Junior Lauren McDaniel also hit an extra point for the Bulldogs.
Harrisburg is back at home Friday night to welcome Benton in Week 6.
Harrisburg 40 Massac County 29
Massac County 0 7 0 22 - 29
Harrisburg 7 14 12 7 - 40
HBG- Crabb 49 pass to Martin (Cowsert kick), 1st 7:46
HBG- Dalton 9 run (Cowsert kick), 2nd 11:43
MC- Yates 95 kickoff return (Willis kick), 2nd 11:27
HBG- Dalton 1 run (Cowsert kick), 2nd 3:38
HBG- Crabb 25 pass to Martin (run failed), 3rd 6:46
HBG- Crabb 4 pass to Morris (kick failed), 3rd 1:18
HBG- Holland 90 run (McDaniel kick), 4th 9:37
MC- Neil 61 run (run failed), 4th 6:59
MC- Thompson 1 run (Neil 2 pt pass to Hart), 4th 4:26
MC- Thompson 58 run (Neil 2 pt run), 4th 0:22
First downs
Massac County 6, Harrisburg 13
Total yards
Massac County 161 , Harrisburg 352
Rushes-yards
Massac County 37-165 , Harrisburg 39-218
Passing yards
Massac County (-4) , Harrisburg 134
Completions-attempts-interceptions
Massac County 1-2-0, Harrisburg 7-11-0
Penalties-yards
Massac County 11-60, Harrisburg 7-35
Fumbles-lost
Massac County 5-0, Harrisburg 4-1
Individual stats
Rushing: Massac County: Thompson 16-92, Neil 7-56, Baird 13-21; Harrisburg Cavender 5-10, Dalton 15-61, Whiting 2-4, Holland 3-107, Wallace 6-33, Giscombe 3-23.
Passing: Massac County: Neil 1-2-0 (-4); Harrisburg: Crabb 7-11-0-134.
Receiving: Massac County: Neil 1-(-4); Harrisburg: Martin 2-74, Gibbs 2-33, Morris 2-18, Dalton 1-9.