HAMILTON – The Good Hope Raiders traveled to Hamilton to continue region play this week. The game went down to the final seconds, as Good Hope’s Bailey Quick connected with Matt Hancock on a 28-yard pass to defeat the Aggies 33-28.
The Aggies received the ball to start the game and took over at the 48-yard line. A slow start engulfed Hamilton as penalties and a low rushing game were factors in the not so stellar opening drive. The Raiders took over after forcing a punt and started at the 34-yard line. Good Hope had a combined 5 yards on its first drive of the game. The Aggies forced a three-and-out and took over on offense.
Hamilton’s Michael Reed rushed for 18-yards and running back Tristen Stewart ran for 13 for a combined 31. That, however, was all the Aggies would muster, and Tyler Holcomb attempted a 43-yard field goal, which came up short. The Raiders took over at the 37-yard line.
The Raiders went for 19-yards on the drive, 12 of which were on the ground by running back Matt Dixon. Hamilton’s defense stood firm.
On Hamilton’s next possession, wide receiver Tyler Holcomb was a catalyst for the Aggies, with 14 yards and two receptions on the drive. A holding call on the Raiders gave Hamilton 5 yards. On the very next play Michael Reed caught a 28-yard pass from quarterback Jathan Jackson.
With 8:50 left in the half, the Aggies were up 7-0, which was the score as the teams headed to the locker rooms.
Good Hope received the ball to open the second half with Matt Dixon rushing for 48 yards on the drive and scoring a touchdown with 9:28 left in the third. A failed 2-point conversion left the Raiders trailing 7-6.
Hamilton took over, trying to avenge the Raider touchdown. After a total of 22 yards on the ground from Stewart and Jackson, the Aggies scored on a Conely Ellis 20-yard touchdown reception to go up 14-6 with 6:23 left in the third.
Good Hope and Hamilton followed up with two three-and-outs apiece before a Hancock 21-yard reception sparked a fire for the Raiders and allowed Dixon and Colton Bagwell to power their way inside the 5-yard line. Bagwell scored a touchdown on a 5-yard run with 9:05 left in the game. The Raiders failed to convert on yet another 2-point attempt and the score was 14-12, Hamilton.
The Aggies had an answer though, and after a failed onside kick attempt, Holcomb and Stewart powered their way for a combined 45-yards on the next drive. Hamilton eventually scored on a 16-yard touchdown reception thrown to wide receiver Alex Reid. The score was ahead 21-12.
Good Hope needed an answer to this seemingly unstoppable Hamilton offense and they got it when Dixon rushed for 73-yards on the next drive, including a 66-yard rushing touchdown. Good Hope finally converted on a 2-point play and trailed 21-19.
Hamilton came back on the next drive and marched 57-yards to score a touchdown on a Matthew Gann 33-yard touchdown reception to go up 28-19.
With 1:51 left in the game, and Good Hope down 28-27, the Raiders took a kick-off return to the 24-yard line to start the last drive of the night. Dixon rushed for 11-yards, then Good Hope moved up 9 more yards on a Bagwell reception. Kyle Carlton caught a pass for 17-yards. Quick ran for 8 yards, and up to the 41-yard line went the Raiders.
Quick then hit Carlton for an 18-yard pickup, up to the 23-yard line with 20 seconds remaining in the game. A false start pushed the Raiders back to the 28. Quick threw two incomplete passes to set the clock at 4.9 seconds remaining.
With one play remaining, the Raiders had to take a shot at the end zone, and that they did.
Quick hit Hancock for a 28-yard touchdown reception as time expired, and the Raiders took the win at the wire, 33-28.
Good Hope was led offensively by Dixon who rushed for 210 yards against the Hamilton defense. Hancock and Bagwell also had big nights. The Aggies were led offensively by Jackson who threw for more than 200 yards in the loss.
Good Hope will play host to Cordova next week.
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