Heating Up: Harrison Holds On At Southfield 28-14

SOUTHFIELD – Sometimes it doesn't have to be pretty.

didn't come close to putting the up gaudy numbers as in last Saturday’s 43-7 win over Cass Tech, but the Hawks held on for a hard fought 28-14 victory at Southfield in front of a big crowd Thursday. 

The Hawks knew it was going to be tough to respond after the short five-day week of practice. The blistering temperatures and high humidity made it even harder.

“It was just a brutal day to play football.” Harrison head coach John Herrington said. “It was a very tough game, against a very physical, tough team. I’m just happy we won.”

After the Blue Jays cut the Hawks (2-0; 1-0 Oakland Activities Association White) lead to 21-14 in the fourth quarter, with 7:08 to play, running back Austin Hunter closed the door on Southfield’s comeback chances.

Hunter carried the ball eight times on the ensuing possession for 39 yards. The 12-play, 50-yard drive lasted over six minutes. Hunter moved the chains three times, converting two key third downs.

The drive was capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jake Vento with 1:14 left in the game.

“It was just like he (Hunter) did in the state championship game for us,” Herrington said. “He’s a good power runner. We just kind of put it on his shoulders, the offensive line was dead tired, but we just pounded it in there.” 

There was nothing fancy with Herrington’s play calling. He basically alternated running Hunter to the right side and left side between the tackles. Southfield (1-1; 0-1 OAA White) just couldn’t bring him down.

“It was very hard,” Hunter said. “But I believed in my team, and my line, that we could do it. We work hard every day. We were just pushing and pushing. We have a great line, I believe in them, we can pound the ball against any team.”

The way the game started out, it didn’t look like Harrison would struggle for points.

The Hawks jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, with touchdowns from Ed Huckleby on the first two drives of the game. Huckleby scored on a 25-yard run on the first drive, and Vento hit the running back with a 6-yard pass in the end zone on the second.

Southfield settled down by the end of the first quarter and put together an 82-yard touchdown drive to get on the board. Quarterback Justin Danzy hit wide receiver Brandon Bean for a 19-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-7.

A fake field goal helped Harrison extend its lead back to 14 before half time. The Hawks lined up to kick at the Blue Jays 20-yard line.

Harrison put the ball into Aaron Burbridge’s hands and had him pass the ball into the end zone to Lamar Marshall.

“It was a pretty fortunate play,” Herrington said. “We didn’t fool them at all, I thought it was a dead play actually, but our kid just out-jumped their kid."

Running back Brandon Watkins helped keep Southfield in the game, rushing for 135 yards on 21 carries. He was a big reason why Southfield controlled the ball for much of the third quarter.

“Watkins is an excellent runner," Herrington said. "He's 185 pounds with great feet and great balance. We really couldn’t stop him. When you get tired like that, it’s tough.”

The Hawks will have a well-deserved weekend off before getting back to work on Monday. They have their home opener on Friday against Stoney Creek, 7 p.m.