WEST POINT – A potential victory turned into a heartbreaking defeat for the West Point Warriors in the season opener Friday evening with the Hamilton Aggies.
Hamilton weathered the storm after giving up a 90-yard touchdown run to the Warriors' Cameron Moore in the third quarter. The Aggies held the Warriors on downs early in the fourth period, then took over and drove 75 yards in 15 plays to score the game winning touchdown with 1:18 remaining to stun the Warriors 14-10.
The game was one of several across the area that had to deal with weather issues. Lightning was seen by the game officials at 8:37 p.m. when the contest was late in the third quarter and Hamilton on top by the score of 6-2.
The game encountered an hour and 20-minute delay. When it resumed at 9:57 p.m., Moore had his shining moment on offense, when he ran off left tackle and got around the sideline on a second down play to take it 90 yards and give the Warriors their first lead of the game.
Turnovers factored in for both teams throughout the contest. West Point fumbled at its 33-yard line early in the game. Hamilton needed one play to take advantage of the Warriors' first miscue of the contest.
A halfback option pass from Jathan Jackson to Tristen Stewart covered 33 yards and the Aggies led 6-0. They missed the extra point with 8:06 to go in the opening period.
The next two drives for the Warriors carried deep into Hamilton territory, only to lose possession on downs.
But the Warriors played good defense and had the Aggies backed inside their 20. On fourth down, the snap sailed over the punter's head and through the end zone for a safety that got West Point on the scoreboard. The Warriors trailed 6-2 with 7:57 remaining in the second.
Following the free kick, the Warriors were unable to move the ball downfield and had to punt. Another possession before the half ended went nowhere with the Warriors down at the break 6-2.
The Warriors fumbled to start the second half, got the ball back on an interception by Noah Allison, then sustained another fumble with Hamilton having the ball at its 28.
Field position was won by the Aggies when they had to punt and the Warriors started at their seven with less than 4:00 to go in the third.
After one play, lightning was seen with the teams sent to the locker rooms. Heavy rain pounded the stadium with a flash flood warning being issued for the county at that time. The storm came from the Arley area and dumped at least two inches of rain across West Point and other sections on the northwest side of Cullman County.
The rain tapered off and the game was back to action when West Point executed the run by Moore with great blocking and Moore showing a burst of speed. The Warriors tacked on a conversion pass by Rylan Jones to Dalton White and would take a 10-6 advantage into the fourth quarter.
An interception by Khristian Thompson gave the Warriors the ball at the Hamilton 35 to start the dramatic final period. The Aggies held the Warriors on four plays and took over at the 25.
Hamilton worked the clock from 9:26 to 1:18 with 15 plays, getting three pass completions. The Aggies picked up a big first down near midfield on fourth down when Wilson got loose around right end on a toss sweep and a first down inside the West Point 25.
Another pass play picked up a first down at the two when the receiver caught it, fumbled the ball and got his own recovery.
Two plays later, Wilson was in the end zone and a conversion pass by Jaron Scott gave Hamilton a 14-10 lead.
West Point's last drive started at its 27. A 26-yard pass from Jones to Moore put the ball at the Hamilton 48. Then Jones was sacked for a 12-yard loss. The following play was a roughing the passer call on the Aggies that put West Point in a first down at the Hamilton 45 as the game went under a minute to go.
On third down, Jones threw the ball downfield, but it was tipped and intercepted by Wilson who ran it 30 yards downfield and the Aggies had just 16 seconds to get off the clock and go back to Marion County with a win in the first-ever meeting against West Point.
Both teams committed four turnovers on a rain soaked field with the Aggies throwing two interceptions, one fumble and the bad snap on a punt attempt that led to a safety. The Warriors suffered three fumbles and threw an interception on their final series of the night.
West Point will look to bounce back when the Warriors journey to Florence next week for the road opener with the Wilson Warriors. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
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