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River Hill hadn't fallen behind in a football game for a long time, but the Hawks didn't let it bother them. After spotting Mt. Hebron a 6-0 lead, the two-time defending state champs overpowered the Vikings, 49-13, activating the running clock in the third quarter and improving to 4-0 Friday night at home.

The last time River Hill was behind was at halftime of the 2007 state championship. The Hawks trailed Eastern Tech, 7-0, but came back to win, 14-7, for their first state title.

"This is the first time in 18 games that we've trailed," River Hill senior captain Thomas Neuberth said. "(At halftime) we were still planning on pounding the ball. We didn't have the game at that point."

For the first five minutes Friday, Mt. Hebron (2-2) appeared to be a worthy opponent. The Vikings' defense halted the Hawks' opening drive, forcing a punt. Spencer Wilkins, Mt. Hebron's best overall athlete, took a pitch and returned it about 65 yard to give his team a 6-0 lead.

"We were practicing it this whole week. I was out covering the gunners and it was basically a reverse, a fake punt return. They just gave me a play and I tried to make it," Wilkins said. "It felt good (to take the lead), but we had to stay humble because we knew a team of that caliber could come back real fast."

And come back real fast they did.

Harry McLaughlin threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Jeremy Ogorzalek less than two minutes after Wilkins' touchdown, and the scoring parade began.

Before the first quarter was over, River Hill reclaimed the lead on a one-yard plunge by McLaughlin, and Kevin Johnson scored on runs of four and 29 yards to give the Hawks a 28-7 lead at halftime.

Mt. Hebron nearly made it interesting before halftime. The Vikings stopped River Hill on downs with 4:30 left and then drove 60 yards to the River Hill 15. However, the drive ended there.

"I wish we'd finished here at the end of the half. I thought we earned that one, I thought we were there," Mt. Hebron coach Ross Hannon said. "We could have come away with something, put something in the end zone or kicked a field goal and then we get the ball to start the second half."

The Vikings' opening possession of the second half started on their 18-yard line. River Hill's Amir Shahegh booted four kicks into the Mt. Hebron end zone for touchbacks, and the ones that were returned were inside the five-yard line

"That's a weapon. If you can make them start on the 20, that's huge," River Hill coach Brian Van Deusen said. "The ones that didn't go in were close, one- or two-yard line, and some of those ended up being better. We stopped them inside the 20-yard line."

River Hill padded its lead on a six-yard pass from McLaughlin to Nick Bonhag between two Viking defenders, a 36-yard touchdown run by Johnson, and a 39-yard fumble recovery and return by Brent Kluge.

Mt. Hebron scored its second touchdown on an eight-yard pass from Clint Huber to Jon Iwaskiw as time expired.

Along with Kluge's fumble recovery, River Hill's defense was led by Kevin Moore (nine-yard sack), Bonhag (batted pass), and Johnson and Neuberth, who each had an interception.

Johnson (122) and Kluge (73) combined for nearly 200 rushing yards, and Neuberth chipped in another 40. Sophomore Donnell Smith was the Vikings' leading rusher with 47 yards, all in the second half.

Hawks quarterback McLaughlin was 4-for-5 for 61 yards and two touchdowns. Mt. Hebron's Clint Huber was 19-for-39 for 150 yards and a touchdown, with two interceptions. Wilkins (5-for-44) and Mike McCarthy (6-for-33) were his top receivers.





Around the league

Howard 26, Reservoir 13

The Lions (2-2) ended a two-game losing streak with a two-touchdown win at Reservoir (1-3). Lions senior running back A.J. Bonavitacola turned in the outstanding performance of the game, compiling more than 240 yards from scrimmage (211 rushing, 30 receiving) and scoring a touchdown.

Howard     7  7  6  6 - 26
Reservoir  0  0  6  7 - 13

First quarter
Ho: Porter 3 run (Floyd kick)

Second quarter
Ho: Ford 2 run  (Floyd Kick)

Third quarter
Ho: Bonavitacola 3 run (kick failed)
Re: Bushong 75 run (kick failed)

Fourth quarter
Ho: Ford 42 run (kick failed)
Re: Thomas 6 run (Marsh kick)

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