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| John Iwaniec and the Hawks are running from past late-game letdowns and toward their first USA South title. Photo courtesy Huntingdon athletics |
Huntingdon joined the USA South in 2013 expecting to win the conference championship and enjoy the accompanying automatic playoff berth.
An independent program for nine of its first ten seasons, the Hawks believed that a football conference would provide the most opportunity for a return trip to the postseason after getting a taste via a Pool B berth in 2009. Huntingdon defeated the eventual USA South champion in each of its first two years in the conference. But, three crushing defeats have kept the Hawks home following the regular season.
In 2013, Huntingdon looked like a team that could come in and immediately capture the USA South title. As an independent in 2012, the Hawks lost just three games by a combined 18 points. Two of those losses were to playoff teams Wesley and Adrian. The Hawks led Wesley 21-10 until the final seconds of the third quarter. The following season, the Hawks again had the Wolverines on the ropes, leading 28-17 heading into the fourth quarter before suffering another 10-point defeat. Those late collapses against Wesley were foreboding.
The Hawks have lost just two conference games each of the past two seasons. Three of those four losses saw the Hawks squander late leads. They know how close they were, and also how unacceptable those kind of defeats should be for a program with high expectations.
“Those losses stick out like a sore thumb to us,” said senior linebacker Jacob Wright. “At the end of the season, those one or two touchdowns really defined where we stand.”
In 2013, Huntingdon led LaGrange 40-24 early in the fourth quarter. The Panthers scored the go-ahead touchdown with 57 seconds left to win 44-40. The Hawks also lost a 52-41 shootout against Methodist, but defeated conference champion Maryville in the season finale.
Last year was déjà vu. The Hawks trounced eventual USA South champion Christopher Newport 51-31 and defeated Maryville 35-21. But, the Hawks allowed Methodist to score the tying touchdown with 42 seconds to play and lost in overtime. Then, they allowed LaGrange to score another go-ahead touchdown with 1:01 left. Those losses are fresh in the memories of Huntingdon coaches and players.
“We haven’t been the conference champion because we haven’t been consistent week in and week out,” said head coach Mike Turk. “If you get there and have that opportunity, you can’t let it slip through your fingers.”
In 2013, the Hawks led the nation in total offense at 585.8 yards per game. That number dipped to 475.6 last season, still good for 19th in the nation. Through four games this season, the Hawks are back up to 499.3 yards per game. The defense has improved from allowing 426.9 yards per game, to 367.2 in 2014, to 355.3 this season. The offense has slowed down in order to help its own defense. Rather than the rapid-fire no-huddle offense of two years ago, the Hawks get to the line, call a freeze play, then read the opposing defense. That has helped open up holes for junior running back John Iwaniec, who is enjoying a breakout season.
“I’m seeing my reads a lot better than I’ve seen them before. It seems like everything is slowing down,” said Iwaniec, who is averaging 109.3 yards per game on the ground. “We have an experienced quarterback and offensive line. We feel like we’re all on the same page.”
Wright is one of just 15 seniors on the junior-heavy roster. He and his classmates have imparted a sense of urgency on their teammates and have been impressed by the maturity of the underclassmen. The seniors don’t want to graduate without a USA South title.
“The past couple of years has been leading up to the potential we have this year,” Wright said. “I feel like the underclassmen have gotten that message in the offseason. We’ve been stressing mental focus each game.”
There is a trust among the players and coaches that has been building during the back-to-back 7-3 seasons. This year’s 3-1 start is just the beginning. The Hawks travel to LaGrange on Oct. 17 but have learned their lesson about looking ahead. They weathered a rally from N.C. Wesleyan, and learned from letting a 38-20 third quarter lead turn into a 45-40 win.
“Our guys rose up and got it done,” said Turk. “We’ve had to scratch and claw for everything we’ve gotten so far. Hopefully, that will benefit us in the long run.”
Turk showed his faith in his players in the Wesley Cup rivalry game at Birmingham-Southern in Week 2. Junior quarterback Luke Bailey led a 14-point comeback to tie the game at 28 with 53 seconds to play. The Panthers then returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown and the Hawks had to rally again with just 40 seconds left. Bailey connected with Willie Coleman for a touchdown with four seconds to play. An extra point would have sent the game into overtime. Turk trusted Bailey and the offense enough to go for two. The try failed and the Hawks lost, but it was a decision that the players supported.
“Coach Turk really has a lot of trust in us,” said Iwaniec. “A big thing for us is knowing that we’re good. [In the past,] it felt like we doubted ourselves sometimes.”
Will this be the year that talent and consistency converge at the right time for the Hawks? Maryville looms on Nov. 7, but if the Hawks have learned anything in their two years in the conference, it’s that every week is a must-win.
“We felt that we had the teams and the talent each of the last two years to win the conference championship,” said Turk. “To be honest, we’ve been very disappointed each of the last two years. We just haven’t been able to finish the job.
“A lot goes into that. It’s easy to talk about, but it’s something else to do it.”
Unbeaten no more
The first full weekend of conference play lent some immediate clarity to the conference races. Franklin and Marshall fell from the Centennial’s unbeaten ranks. Dickinson won a defensive battle, holding on for a 13-7 win over the Dips. The Red Devils held F&M to 4-14 on third down and 0-4 on fourth down to keep the Conestoga Wagon trophy in Carlisle for the second straight season.
Starting a drive at their own six yard line trailing by six points, the Dips marched down the field before Jack Margavitch intercepted a Matt Magarity pass at the Dickinson 14 with 34 seconds remaining. Freshman quarterback Billy Burger did just enough in his first career start to lead the Red Devils to the win.
The loss leaves Gettysburg and Johns Hopkins as the only 5-0 teams in the Centennial as the conference enters its bye week.
Washington and Lee is the only 4-0 team in the ODAC after beating up No. 23 Guilford, 20-17. Both teams struggled offensively, entering halftime tied at 3. The Generals averaged 49 points entering the contested, while the Quakers led the nation at 63.3 points per game. Quarterback Matt Pawlowski left the game with an injury in the second quarter. Backup Mitch Ferrick rallied the Quakers with two fourth quarter touchdown passes, but Matt Underhill’s school-record 51-yard field goal in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference as the Generals held on for the win. The 4-0 start is the program’s best since 2000. Charlie Nelson rushed for 154 yards on 17 carries and completed three passes for 104 yards.
Guilford and Pawlowski could bounce back quickly. According to Chris Rusiewicz, Pawlowski could be back this week or next. The Quakers host Shenandoah on Oct. 10 and travel to Bridgewater on Oct. 17.
The Eagles beat the Hornets behind an opportunistic defense that intercepted Hayden Bauserman three times. Four different Eagles rushed for touchdowns in the 39-21 win that delivered Shenandoah its first loss of 2015.
Maryville, playing again without running back Trenton Shuler, nearly let Methodist steal a win. The Scots jumped out to a 21-0 lead, but trailed 23-21 after Brandon Torres made his third field goal early in the fourth quarter. Evan Pittenger connected with Mario Williams for a 17-yard touchdown and the following two-point conversion to regain the lead with 1:26 to play.
Through the muck and the mire
Offensive numbers were down across the region as teams contended with cold, rain, and wind. Or, as I like to call it, perfect football weather. Teams were forced to adapt even before kickoff.
Ferrum and Greensboro moved their game to Friday night at a Roanoke high school to avoid Saturday’s forecast. The Panthers rushed for 352 yards, led by Troy Helton’s 163 and Charles George’s 146, in a 31-21 win.
Hampden-Sydney moved its home game against Catholic to Jefferson Forest High School, and also rode its ground game to victory. Kyree Koonce carried 30 times for 203 yards and two scores to lead the Tigers to a 38-21 victory.
Unfortunately, Averett and LaGrange cancelled their meeting. The Cougars still held their homecoming festivities on campus, but did not want the LaGrange team and fans to travel so far in such dangerous conditions. Although this is a conference game, it is unlikely to be rescheduled, according to Averett’s athletics website.
ODAC back to seven in ‘17
Catholic announced that it will join a new conference in 2017. The Cardinals are leaving the ODAC for the NEWMAC. Catholic will go from being the northernmost team in its conference, to the southernmost, playing conference games against teams from New England. Thanks to the addition of Shenandoah in 2012, Catholic’s departure will leave the ODAC with seven teams and allow the conference champion to retain its automatic qualifying bid to the playoffs. According to ODAC commissioner Brad Bankston, there are no concrete plans to replace Catholic with another football member at this time.
On tap
Washington and Lee at Hampden-Sydney is now the marquee ODAC matchup on Oct. 10. The results of Shenandoah at Guilford and Bridgewater at Emory and Henry will also shed light on whether there is going to be separation in the ODAC or if this is yet another wide open race.
N.C. Wesleyan clawed its way back against Huntingdon and now gets its shot at conference front-runner Maryville. The Scots will be tested on the road after nearly letting one slip away at home against Methodist. The Battling Bishops are 0-4 and desperate for win. The 4-0 Scots can’t afford to look past Dustin Midgett, who passed for 358 yards and six scores against Huntingdon.
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