A struggling team’s will to win should never be ignored. Just ask the Central Purple Pounders.
After an interception by Army football commitment D.J. Baxter to end East Hamilton’s potential final-minute, game-winning drive, some of the Pounders celebrated their 14-9 Region 3-4A victory over East Hamilton different than others.
Some ran around in disbelief, some jumped around uncontrollably, while some knelt to the ground in reflection. All in all, they proved how emotional football can be.
“He’s the best player in the city,” first-year Central head coach Cortney Braswell said confidently. “I had him as a sophomore (when Braswell was defensive coordinator), and I just know how great a kid he is. After halftime I just looked at him and said everybody here knows you’re the best player in the city, so go put it on display. So I’m not surprised at all by him.”
Baxter finished Friday night’s game with two interceptions and 63 total yards on offense. His quarterback, Jaheim Jones, threw for 56 yards and added 76 on the ground.
Quarterback Andrew Sturdivant topped the Hurricanes’ stat chart with 109 hard-earned rushing yards and 50 through the air.
“I’m so proud of the team as a whole, because for the last two weeks all we’ve done is find ways to dig a hole for ourselves,” an emotional Braswell said. “Tonight the hole was a bit smaller, but our offense finally came through in the end, and we were able to grind it out – which is something we’ve been capable of doing all year, but it was nice to see that tonight.”
After the Hurricanes stuffed a couple of Pounders possessions, East Hamilton kicker Jake McClure came on to give his side a 3-0 lead late in the first quarter. But Central had an answer later on.
About 13 minutes of game clock later, Central’s Jaheim Jones capped off an eight-play drive by hitting big man Moses Houston on a flat route that turned into an 11-yard touchdown.
Two more field goals throughout the second half by McClure gave the Hurricanes the lead with less than a minute to go until the fourth quarter – putting the Pounders into a painfully familiar situation. But a running back who had just been carried off the field moments before inevitably flipped the switch on Central’s season.
Sophomore Michael McGhee went from nursing cramps on the sideline to touching the ball seven times on Central’s game-winning drive, including what turned out to be the deciding touchdown.
“He is tough,” Braswell repeated. “I’m pretty sure he eats nails for breakfast. Your stomach kind of sinks to the floor when you see a weapon like that go down, but he recovered in the biggest way possible.”
McGhee finished the contest with 73 yards on 19 carries and the game-winning score.
The Hurricanes’ loss drops them to third in 3-4A after Hixson’s win over Sequoyah on Friday. East Hamilton (5-4, 3-2) will now turn to face first-place Stone Memorial next week.
“I told the team we beat a good football team tonight,” Braswell said. “They didn’t give us anything, but some breaks are bound to happen during a game, and we finally caught some.”
The Pounders (3-5, 2-2) will try to continue the momentum next week when they host Sequoyah.
Contact John Mitchell at sports@timesfreepress.com