Hawks fall short in push for 2-seed
After a remarkable season, Hardin Valley Academy hoped to make more program history last weekend.
A late Cleveland touchdown prevented it.
With HVA clinging to a slim lead over the Blue Raiders, Cleveland quarterback Kason McGowan leaped into a pile at the goal line. The Hawks thought they got the stop, but officials ruled on his second effort and called it a touchdown.
HVA proved unable to cross midfield on its final drive, leaving the Hawks just shy of a win that would have given them the 2-seed and a home game in the Region 2-6A playoffs.
Now, per head coach Tyler Wynn, HVA has to beat Ooltewah and needs Maryville to beat Oak Ridge to ensure the Hawks still get in. This changes the circumstances a bit for a team that appeared to have essentially sealed its postseason fate with a key victory over Oak Ridge in Week 8.
“I’m not happy, and I told the kids that,” Wynn said of the Cleveland loss. “But I’m not disappointed either.
Pleased with how hard they played and the way they competed. We had some things not go our way and they did a really good job defensively. We played ball control because I didn’t want their offense on the field forever, and they had a couple breaks to their way that we couldn’t capitalize on.”
Cleveland ran five plays inside the 1-yard-line, and Wynn acknowledged the statements he heard about whether or not the Raiders scored. He also gave credit where it was due, though.
“Well, you know what? They earned it,” he said. “They found a way to get it across the line and we couldn’t make the stop when we needed to. It’s on to the next one to see what we can do to try to put ourselves in a better situation.”
This week, HVA will welcome an Owls team that lost last week at Lenoir City. To win, HVA will need weapons like Riley Matz, Jeremiah Brown and Nic Rivers on offense, along with Beau Wise on defense and Logan Holbrook in special teams.
ing corps with six catches for 60 yards, and Becks Allen and Beau Wise led the defense with 11 tackles apiece. In special teams, Logan Holbrook nailed one of his three kicks on the night.
