Despite late rally to tie, Hawks fall to Bradley
HARDIN VALLEY — Forcing a pair of late turnovers, in addition to a trick play that worked, Hardin Valley Academy rallied late to tie Bradley Central 17-17 in attempt to win its first Region 2-6A game of the season Friday evening, Oct. 11, at HVA.
In the end, though, it was a 44-yard touchdown run by Bears star back Kenyon Phelps with just 1:25 to play in the fourth quarter that allowed the visitors to escape with a 23-17 victory.
After falling behind 17-0 roughly two minutes into the second quarter, the Hardin Valley defense held BCHS (3-4, 1-2) without a point for more than 32 minutes until Phelps’ winning TD.
Ryder Dozier’s 48-yard scoring run up the middle cut the lead to 17-7 with 6:55 left in the first half.
A nice open-field tackle by Hawks junior linebacker Samuel Mann stopped the Bears on a fourth-and-2 at the HVA 21 early in the third quarter. With Bradley looking to put the game away after driving to the Hardin Valley 25 early in the final quarter, a fumble recovered by senior defensive end Michael Stewart Jr. at the HVA 21 gave the home team life.
A drive to the BCHS 31 ended with a 48-yard Nathan Holbrook field goal, trimming the difference to 17-10 with 5:23 to play.
On the first play from scrimmage after Holbrook’s boot, Bradley fumbled and Hawk Chance Sharp recovered inside the BCHS 30 with 5:15 remaining.
Aided by a pass interference call, HVA (1-6, 0-3) tied the game 17-17 with 3:15 left. Holbrook’s 8-yard TD reception from wildcat formation quarterback Kaden Kutcher — who faked a run up the middle before stopping and tossing to the wide-open senior in the end zone — came on fourth-and-3.
