By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington D.C. Metro Area
**Highlights and post-game interviews are posted!**
Hayfield interim head coach Roy Hill is a legend in wrestling circles, winning nine district titles in the last 13 years with the school’s wrestling team, the MatHawks.
If Hayfield repeats its performance against Yorktown in the regional quarterfinals Friday, Hill’s football team might become the BallHawks.
The Hawks intercepted the Patriots four times, recovered two fumbles and blocked two field goals. Senior Nazrul Islam returning one 84 yards for the game’s first score.
Hayfield beat Yorktown, 34-6, advancing to the Division 5 Northern Region semifinals.
“It was crazy. Justin Marshall blocked it … when he blocked it, I didn’t know what to do at first because I thought it was an extra point,” said Islam, who also recovered a fumble on a Patriot kickoff return. “But, then, the whistle didn’t blow, so I just ran for a touchdown.
“We were up 6-0 and had the entirety of the momentum from there.”
Hayfield’s encore to Islam’s long return was a fumble recovery by junior Ryan Murphy, followed by a blocked field goal by Hawk sophomore Steve Lynch and Islam’s fumble recovery, forced by junior Hashim Sesay.
All that came before the end of the first quarter.
The region’s highest-scoring offense immediately capitalized. The Hawks led, 20-0, after one.
Hayfield senior Rayshawn Rigans carried 10 times for 205 yards and three scores without registering an attempt in the second half.
With that breathing room, the defense did not relent.
Sesay intercepted two passes in the second quarter, both in the red zone, and broke up a 3rd-and-9 pass attempt in the end zone with jaw-rattling hit.
Lynch’s blocked field came on the next play. Within two minutes, the Hawks tripled their lead.
“I thought it was a touchdown at first because Anton [McCallum], it looked like the guy got past him a little bit,” said Sesay, whose team was 2 minutes, 48 seconds from a shutout. “But I just hit him and the ball popped out.
“I got lucky I guess.”
Hayfield will play the winner of Saturday’s game between Lee and McLean, contested on the same field as the Hawks’ win Friday.
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
Box Score 1 2 3 4 — F
Yorktown 0 0 0 6 — 6
Hayfield 20 14 0 0 — 34
Scoring Plays
1Q — HF — Islam 86 blocked FG return (run failed) — 7:39
1Q — HF — Rigans 68 run (Souphida kick) — 0:52
1Q — HF — McCallum 35 run (Souphida kick) — 0:35
2Q — HF — Rigans 6 run (Souphida kick) — 6:21
2Q — HF — Rigans 69 run (Souphida kick) — 2:16
4Q — YK — Nottingham 1 run (kick failed) — 2:48
Passing
YK – Nottingham – 15-for-33, 197 yards, 4 INT.
HF – McCallum – 0-for-3, 0 yards.
Rushing
YK – Doles – 21 car, 67 yards; Nottingham – 19 car, 44 yards, TD; J. Smith – 2
car, 14 yards; Banks – 1 car, 3 yards.
HF –
Rigans – 10 car, 205 yards, 3 TD; Lynch – 13 car, 71 yards; Fells – 12 car, 66 yards; McCallum – 6 car, 36 yards, TD; Stewart – 2
car, 20 yards; No. 28 – 2 car, 5 yards; Souphida – 1 car, -2 yards.
Receiving
YK – Veith – 4 rec, 87 yards; Hafiz – 5
rec, 51 yards; D’Addario – 2 rec, 21 yards; Zobor – 2 rec, 14 yards; Bartholomew – 1 rec, 13 yards; J. Smith – 1 rec, 11 yards.
HF – None.
Times Targeted
YK – Veith – 12; Hafiz – 7; Bartholomew – 4; Bernhardt – 3; J. Smith – 3; D’Addario – 2; Zobor – 2.
HF – Knudson – 2; Townsend – 1.
Leading Tacklers
YK – Dixon – 8; Osteen – 5; Bartholomew – 4; Moyer – 4; Zobor – 4.
HF – J. Marshall – 11; Wilson – 8; Evans – 6; Giammaria – 5; Scott – 5.
Total Yards
YK – 325.
HF – 391.
Time of Possession (First Half)
YK – 26:07 (16:41).
HF – 21:53 (7:19).
First Downs (Total; Run-Pass-Penalty)
YK – 22; 12-9-1.
HF – 17; 16-0-1.
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