Players on the Howard sideline started chanting, “Four-and-O!” as quarterback Thomas McCaulay lined up in the victory formation.
Indeed, the Hustlin’ Tigers are 4-0 for the second time in three years after defeating Red Bank 26-21 on Friday night.
“We have got leadership this year, and these kids refuse to give up,” Howard coach Alvin Tarver said. “They’re strong mentally and physically.”
The Lions (2-2) planned to play two quarterbacks and did, with both having a chance late in the fourth quarter.
The Tigers didn’t have the same idea but needed Darrion Roshell under center in the fourth quarter while McCaulay tried to catch his breath.
Roshell scored on a 33-yard option keeper down the left sideline for a 26-21 lead with more than eight minutes to play.
“In practice, we work on reads, and I just read it and ran,” the senior said. “It was a very big play.”
Tarver said it was the difference between winning and losing.
“Darrion really executed the triple-option the best we’ve run it this year,” Tarver said. “It was just the spark we needed.”
Howard’s Horace Hector had the hot hands early on. The senior intercepted Red Bank quarterback Niquia McDuffie on the third play of the game. Then Hector made a leaping grab on a 9-yard fade-route pass for a 6-0 lead less than three minutes after kickoff.
Red Bank settled in, using both McDuffie and Hagen Wilkey at quarterback but also featuring Randall Lee as the tailback.
Lee carried on seven straight plays early in the second quarter. The last of that series was a 5-yard rumble for six points.
McDuffie returned on the Lions’ next possession and passed to Delvantez Slay wide open in the middle of the field for a 29-yard score and a 14-6 lead.
Howard senior Kelvin Bowser intercepted Wilkey with 90 seconds to go before halftime. The Tigers capitalized with a 16-yard touchdown strike from McCaulay to Roshell, who starts at receiver.
Howard retook the lead after an 11-play drive to open the second half. Scovia Covington capped it with a 2-yard rush up the middle.
Red Bank responded with McDuffie throwing to Kameno Watson for a 17-yard touchdown and a 21-20 lead.
McCaulay took a shot on an incomplete pass and Roshell stepped under center. Two plays later, he had the Tigers back on top.
“We didn’t play very well,” Red Bank coach Tim Daniels said. “If we come out and execute, we can play with a lot of different people. We didn’t execute worth a flip in the first half and weren’t better in the second half.”
Contact David Uchiyama at 423-757-6484 or duchiyama@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/UchSports.