Evans Holds Off Harlem to Reach 3-0
Speedster Joe Hampton too much; Bulldogs comeback falls just short
Two separate lightning fast, 80-yard touchdown dashes by senior Joseph Hampton made the difference Friday night when Evans held off a second half surge by Harlem to earn a 22-20 non-region victory and improve to 3-0 for the season. Harlem fell to 2-1 as both teams have more non-region games to play before the “second season” commences.
Hampton rushed for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns on 11 carries. Senior quarterback Kaleb Jackson steadily steered the Evans offense, running for 65 yards on 10 carries and passing for another 66 yards, including a touchdown strike to Jourdain Spann. The Knights also benefited from timely plays by DJ Walton, who caused the game’s only turnover with a touchdown saving forced fumble, and Fabian Klawa, who nailed a 40-yard field goal right before the end of the first half to give the Knights a two-score lead they would never fully relinquish.
The always resilient Bulldogs were again paced by the potent rushing duo of Jason Williams (113 yards and 1 touchdown) and Jacorious Boyd (84 yards). But quarterback Ryan Newman (11-14 for 129 yards and 2 touchdowns) helped bring balance to the offensive attack. And it was via the air that Harlem would score two second-half touchdowns that set up a game winning field goal attempt that just missed the mark.
Hampton Struck Twice
First year head coach Barrett Davis commended Hampton in an email exchange Saturday, calling him an “electric player who is fun to watch” and pointing out the humility that Hampton expressed in giving linemen like Trey Morris and Mason Short the credit for his game changing rushes.
“We have some great players on the offensive line with some size and heart who love their job and take pride in it,” Davis explained. “Trey Morris is our leader in the trenches.”
The timing on Hampton’s two scoring strikes made both touchdowns feel like mini-knockout punches in the moment. The first 80 yarder came on the first play of the initial series for Evans. And it came immediately after Harlem marched 85 yards on the game’s opening drive only to have Walton knock the ball loose from Williams a split second before Williams crossed the goal line on a run from the 23 yard line. Hampton’s second strike came on the first play of the fourth quarter, putting the Knights ahead 22-13 and answering a 99-yard touchdown drive for the Bulldogs.
Harlem’s comeback attempt
One week after overcoming a two-score, fourth quarter deficit against Greenbrier, Harlem’s comeback attempt Friday fell short. But the Bulldogs should earn high marks for resiliency because of the way they put themselves in position to win Friday. Trailing 15-6 with its back against the goal line on the first series of the third quarter, Harlem’s defense kept Evans out of the end zone on fourth-and-goal. The offense then followed with a 99-yard touchdown drive that ended with an 8-yard connection between Newman and Johnathan Howard to make it 15-13 right before the end of the period.
After falling behind by 9 again in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs mounted one more run with a 72 yard drive that ended with a 27 yard touchdown completion between Newman and Brett Sterner. After a successful onside kick and a drive to the Evans 20 yard line, the Bulldogs had their first chance since the second quarter to take the lead. But a 37-yard field goal attempt by Sterner barely missed to the right, and Evans was able to milk the remaining 2:50 off of the clock for the win.
The Bulldogs showed a similar resolve in responding to the first score by Evans. Soon after Hampton’s first 80 yard touchdown run that gave Evans a 6-0 lead, Harlem responded with a 98-yard drive that was punctuated by a 24-yard touchdown run by Williams on the first play of the second quarter to tie things at 6.
But Evans scored on its next two offensive series behind a methodical attack that was spearheaded by Kaleb Jackson. The Albany State bound quarterback rushed and passed Evans down the field for a 62-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown completion to fellow senior Jourdain Spann that made it 12-6 with 6:29 remaining in the second quarter. And after Harlem was forced to punt on the next series, Jackson again led the offense into field goal position with a 50 yard drive that positioned Fabian Klawa for a successful 40-yard strike right before halftime. Evans’s 15-6 lead would be threatened, but never overcome, during the remainder of the evening.
Looking ahead
Evans (3-0) will host Richmond (0-1) this Friday in a rematch of a thriller from last season between what would become two region champions. Richmond, the eventual class 3A, region 3 winner, came from behind to win 17-16 at home against the class 6A, region 3 champ.
Harlem (2-1) will host Lincoln County (2-0) on September 17 in a game that will be televised on MeTV. The Red Devils are surging two weeks into the season and are coming off of an impressive 23-17 win over Westside (2-1), a game that Charles McNeil and Seth Wesley covered for AugBball Friday with this full game video report: