Win Number 3!

All week long, we were hearing that the Hopkins game was going to be tough. “They’re a very physical team”, said Coach Hector Negron. Coach Pickert was concerned because some of his key players had nagging injuries that kept them from full practices leading up to the game. Then, on Thursday, the Journal News, in their weekly football column, predicted a Hopkins win. But, as the team warmed up before the game on Saturday at Hopkins Field, there was a confident intensity to them that has been there all year…and two hours later, Hackley had beaten a very tough Hopkins team, 17-14, to remain unbeaten and tied for first place in the Fairchester Football League.

Right from the beginning of the game, Hackley began to do what it does best. Even though they lost the opening coin toss, on the second play of the game, Darnell Davis grabbed an interception and the Hackley offense went to work. Sam Budlong engineered a six minute drive that culminated in his kicking a 21 yard field goal that put the Hornets ahead, 3-0. They never looked back.

The Hornets scored on a long drive at the beginning of the second quarter and the beginning of the 3rd quarter. Hopkins responded with drives of their own and, even though the 2 teams played head-to-head all day, the Hornets were clearly in charge of the game.

The offensive and defensive line work was especially noteworthy this week. Seniors Jack Houghteling and Dan Colon and Junior Eddie Makinde had outstanding games, opening holes on offense and making key tackles on defense. Darnell Davis and Adam Parker had their usual strong games, gaining 94 and 90 yards respectively on the ground. In addition to his field goal, Sam Budlong completed 4 of 8 passes for 114 yards. But the real key to victory against Hopkins was senior all-purpose man Chris Starr.

Despite nursing a leg injury, Chris had 134 total yards on 12 rushes and 2 receptions. Generally a key to the Hackley defense as well, Chris sat out on defense for most of the game due to his injury. But when he was on the field, he showed such grit and “determination to win” on play after play that you could see the effect he was having on the Hopkins’ players. Time after time, his second and third efforts resulted in the extra yardage Hackley needed for key yards. In a game in which Hackley dominated the time of possession, Chris Starr was the key to the Hornet’s momentum!

The 2009 Hackley Varsity Football team is a very special group of young men and it showed this week against Hopkins. This group of guys is a team in every sense of the word. The team captains, Jack Houghteling, Darnell Davis, and Steve DelMoro, each in their own way, lead this gritty group of athletes who clearly enjoy playing the game. On offense and defense, this team stands together…and that’s how they win.