by Burton, Ohio – The visiting Hawken Hawks defeated the Berkshire Badgers, 34-7, on Thursday night at Great Lakes Cheese Stadium.
On the first drive of the game, Hawken marched down the field, getting as close as the two-yard line. But the Berkshire defense stood tall, holding the Hawks off the scoreboard.
After forcing a Berkshire punt, following a drive that took the majority of the first quarter, Hawken set up shop for the second time.
This time, they would capitalize, as Donovan Moorhead found Kene Obi for a three-yard touchdown reception. On the previous play, Moorhead found Tommy Walton on a third-down reception to keep the drive alive. Hawken led 7-0 less than 48 seconds into the second quarter.
The Hawks looked to add to their lead, after having set up shop on the Berkshire 41 following a partially blocked punt. They would get into the red zone for the third time, but came away empty as Berkshire forced a turnover. Abram Southern came up with the interception following a Luke Stute pass breakup.
Hawken forced another punt, and took over late in the first half. They would add to their lead as senior tailback Jordan Johnson broke a pair of tackles, then raced into the end zone for a 73-yard touchdown to close the first half.
Berkshire got the ball to start the second half, and came up with a scoring drive of their own. They got a pair of huge first downs, with the first coming off an Oliver Miller to Paul Brent connection on a double pass. A couple of plays later, quarterback Sam Barcikoski found Andrew Kimpton for another reception to move the Badgers to the Hawken 2.
Miller would punch it in from two yards out to cut the Berkshire deficit to 14-7 with 5:34 left in the third quarter.
The Badgers came up with another turnover, as Oliver Miller picked off a Donovan Moorehead pass. However, the drive went backwards due to a couple of bad snaps. In the shadow of their own end zone, Berkshire looked to punt the ball away, but Kene Obi came up with the block. Sophomore Mitch Greenberg came up with the loose ball in the end zone to put the Hawks ahead, 20-7, with 1:04 left in the third quarter.
Later in the final stanza, senior Jordan Johnson came up with another big play, taking a handoff 58 yards to the house. This would increase the Hawk lead to 27-7 with 4:58 left. But the Hawks were not done.
Senior Kene Obi would add to his huge night on defense, picking off a pass and racing to the end zone from 40 yards out to put the Hawks ahead 34-7, with 4:10 to play.
Hawken, now 2-0, faces rival Gilmour Academy at home on Friday, September 6th.
Berkshire, now 1-1, travels to Conneaut next Friday, September 6th.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Kene Obi (Hawken)
The junior had a receiving touchdown, a blocked punt, tackles for loss, and a pick-six. He was all over the field Thursday night, coming up huge for the Hawks wherever needed.
Jordan Johnson (Hawken)
The senior tailback finished with 266 yards on 17 carries and a pair of scores. His 73-yard scamper into the end zone to close the half gave the Hawks much needed momentum at the break.
Oliver Miller (Berkshire)
He had a huge third quarter, throwing a completion for a big gain on third down, rushing for a touchdown, and picking a pass off.
Extended highlights below:
