They say eventually you’ll get paid back for all of your bad luck during a season. Veterans will take that in gold bars, thank you.
For the second time this year, the Warhawks suffered another heart-breaking loss. This time it was to Howard, on Homecoming no less, 25-11.
Things certainly started out well enough. Veterans pinned the visitor on the 1 on the opening kickoff. On the second play from scrimmage it then tackled the runner in the endzone for the safety.
Two possessions later – dominating the first quarter overall – it drove down the field and scored on an eight-yard pass from Leyton Pinckney to Cordelle Clark. The point after was no good making it 8-0.
The Huskies in turn got on board via a 95-yard run. They, too, missed the extra point, however, making it 8-6.
Veterans drove again a short time later. This time it stalled, but was still able to get a James Tinney field goal for its efforts.
Howard, although it was held to a couple of first downs for most of the first half, still managed to put together enough of a drive to score again, this time from the 2. The PAT was again missed, making it 12-11.
Enter heartbreak.
The Warhawks drive down the field. At one point, Pinckney hits Clark down around the 15. He breaks a couple-to-three tackles – even drags an opposing player for a spell – before being tackled at the one-foot line.
With no timeouts and the clock at 14 seconds, Veterans attempts to spike the ball. For whatever reason – valid or a missed call – it’s ruled a fumble. Howard recovers. The Warhawks go into the locker room minus what looked to be six or seven more.
Both pretty much punt throughout the third, but the Huskies do get a 35-yard touchdown to go up 18-11.
More heartbreak was to follow.
Late in the fourth, Veterans drives for what could possibly tie the game – with the PAT. That ends on an interception at the 3.
Still not done. The Warhawks stop Howard twice on third down attempts, but on a third, the Huskies find a player for 25 yards. That ultimately leads to their final score.
They win their fourth straight after opening with a loss, while Veterans falls to 2-3.
MCDONALD’S OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME CORDELLE CLARK.
PAPA JOHN’S DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME JALON SHINE.
