MCI quarterback Ryan Friend waits to take a snap during the third quarter of Class C North action against Hermon Friday, September 21, 2018 in Pittsfield. MCI won the game 29-25. Photo by Chris Lessner (click to enlarge)
PITTSFIELD- The MCI Huskies got a late fourth quarter touchdown run from Tucker Sharples Friday night to get past the Hermon Hawks 29-25 in a greatly anticipated football tilt in Pittsfield between the top two teams in Class C North.
MCI (3-1) fumbled the ball away twice in the opening 12 minutes giving the visitors from Hermon the early momentum. The Hawks broke through and onto the scoreboard first when River Mullen took a hand off and went 65 yards down the sidelines to make it 6-0. Hermon continued that momentum in the second quarter when quarterback Garrett Trask found receiver Keith Pomeroy for a 30 yard touchdown pass, making it 12-0 after a second straight failed point after.
The home Huskies got things together before the half, and quarterback Ryan Friend scored a five yard keeper to cap off a nine play drive that took 5:53 off the clock. MCI converted the extra point and trailed 12-7 at halftime.
The third quarter belonged to the hosts from Pittsfield. A good kickoff return to begin the half set MCI up at the Hermon 41 yard line. 1:48 later, running back Sharples scored on a 14 yard run to give the Huskies their first lead, and a two point conversation was good to make it 15-12. Hermon then used nine plays to drive to the MCI 20 yard line only to turn the ball over on downs. MCI looked as if it had taken control of the game when it then would go 80 yards in eight plays, capped off by a short Seth Bussell touchdown run. The extra point made it 22-12 after three.
Hermon (3-1) wouldn’t go quiet however. The Hawks converted on their own 80 yard drive on 10 plays, with Trask taking it in from five yards away. The failed two point conversation made it 22-18. The Hawks then got a big break when the Huskies fumbled away the ball for the third time on the night, and Hermon recovered at the MCI 39. Two plays later and less than a minute of possession time, the Hawks took the lead back when Trask found Wyatt Gogan for a 41 yard pitch and catch and with the extra point it was 25-22 Hermon. Sharples scored his second of the night from two yards away with just 2:55 to go that proved to be the game winner, capping off a 12 play 75 yard drive. Trask was intercepted by Tyler Staples with 1:30 left, and with two first downs MCI was able to run out the clock and pick up the win.
Statistically the running of Bussell in the second half was a huge factor. Held to just 8 yards on 2 carries in first half, Bussell had 20 carries for 111 yards and a touchdown in the second half (22 attempts, 119 yards total). Sharples also added 82 second half rushing yards and finished with 18 attempts and 103 yards with the two scores on the night. Hermon was led by Trask, who used his arm on this night instead of his feet to help the Hawks. Trask was 13-23 passing, 183 yards, two touchdowns, and the one late interception. He also added 13 rushes for 29 yards and a score. Mullen finished with 5 rushing attempts for 66 yards including the long first quarter touchdown run. Pomeroy caught 7 passes for 83 yards and the one score as well.
Both teams are back in action next Friday at home. MCI will host Old Town at 6 pm, while Hermon is home against MDI at 7.
HER 6 6 0 13- 25
MCI 0 7 15 7- 29
Total yards- Hermon 295 MCI 318
Turnovers- Hermon 1 MCI 3
Time of game- 2 hours, 24 min
