Howard beats East Hamilton, earns Region 2-4A's No. 3 seed [photos]

East Hamilton's Mason Lafollete (99) kicks a field goal for the Hurricane's only score of the first half.  The Howard Hustling Tigers visited the East Hamilton Hurricanes in a TSSAA District game on October 26, 2018
East Hamilton's Mason Lafollete (99) kicks a field goal for the Hurricane's only score of the first half. The Howard Hustling Tigers visited the East Hamilton Hurricanes in a TSSAA District game on October 26, 2018

Offensive success early and stout defense late made the difference for the Howard Hustlin' Tigers in their regular-season finale Friday night.

With a 19-6 win at East Hamilton, Howard forcefully took Region 2-4A's No. 3 seed for the state playoffs, which start next week. The Hurricanes will be the region's No. 4 seed, and both they and Howard must travel.

"I was really pleased with those guys," Howard coach John Starr said. "They gave us the effort we needed. The whole third quarter was played inside (our 10-yard line), it felt like, and we couldn't get the field flipped. They finally got it flipped for us, and we really appreciate that. They did a great job."

The Hustlin' Tigers (5-4, 4-2) used two fumble recoveries on special teams, a clock-chewing offense and a stingy defense to only allow two possessions for the Hurricanes (4-6, 3-3) in the first half.

Howard, meanwhile, built a 13-0 lead in the first quarter. Quarterback Marquez Williams found Terran Bell for a 7-yard scoring strike, and Howard recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. Williams broke loose on a keeper for a 30-yard touchdown a few plays later.

The first possession for East Hamilton went three-and-out, but the second got off to a promising start. The offense stalled on the 12-yard line, however, and Mason LaFollete kicked a 29-yard field goal to make it 13-3 at halftime.

"We can't move the football," Hurricanes coach Ted Gatewood said. "Our defense has played well all year, but we struggle offensively and it shows. That's on me, and we have to get it fixed. We have to get it fixed."

East Hamilton's defense went toe to toe with Howard's. The Hurricanes continually pinned the Hustlin' Tigers deep in their own territory throughout the second half.

That gave East Hamilton a chance to fight its way back into the game as LaFollete scorched one through the uprights from 47 yards out to make it 13-6.

That score remained intact until there was 2:37 left in the game. That's when workhorse running back Eric Johnson, who totaled 132 rushing yards, took one of his 21 carries to the house for a 79-yard touchdown to seal the win for Howard.

"We were just trying to get first downs," Starr said. "We were just trying to run the clock. I looked up and saw he had a crease, and he found it. I was tickled with that."

Contact Idris Garcia at sports@timesfreepress.com.

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