Even after so many things had gone wrong in the Class 3A state semifinal Nov. 27, River Hill was poised to pull out an improbable win.

But one last mistake came too late for the Hawks and they watched the clock run out on a 40-game win streak in a difficult 10-7 loss at Huntingtown, of Calvert County, on a wind-swept evening.

"We had our chances all day, we just didn't make the plays today," River Hill coach Brian Van Deusen said.

Junior Mark Smith's 35-yard field goal with a little more than a minute left in the game put Huntingtown (13-0) ahead, 10-7, setting the stage for River Hill's final drive.

River Hill quarterback Harry McLaughlin used about 50 seconds to move the Hawks to the Hurricanes' 6-yard line, but fumbled trying to spike the ball in order to set up a potential game-tying field goal. Huntingtown's Andrew Bose jumped on the loose ball as time expired, ending River Hill's (12-1) two-year state championship reign.

"They were about to spike and I just saw the ball pop up, and I just dropped to the ground and grabbed it," said Bose, who recovered another fumble in the second quarter that set up Huntingtown's only touchdown.

Huntingtown fans stormed the field and River Hill coaches deliberated with officials for several minutes about the fumble call before leaving the field.

"The quarterback's downing the ball, (the officials) said he fumbled it and not threw it -- so that was their call," Van Deusen said. "It looked like he got it down. That's what I'm looking for -- is the ball going down. It could have been a shovel pass or whatever. The ball lands in front of him, it's a pass, it's incomplete."

Huntingtown had the wind at its back in the fourth quarter, but Smith's game-winning kick almost didn't make it.

"I got a good snap, good hold, solid kick, (it) looked good right away. The wind started pushing it to the left, but it went in there," Smith said.

After returning the ensuing kickoff to the 35-yard line, McLaughlin had less than a minute to drive the length of the field to either win the game with a touchdown or set up the game-tying field goal.

The junior went to work on what was River Hill's longest drive of the game. He completed passes of 6 and 7 yards to tight end Nick Bonhag, a 23-yarder to Kevin Johnson and a 20-yarder to Bonhag put the ball on the Huntingtown 6-yard line with about 10 seconds left.

River Hill's kicker Amir Shahegh was 2-for-2 on field-goal attempts this season and it appeared he would get the chance to send the game into overtime, but McLaughlin's game-ending fumble thwarted the opportunity.

It was a stunning way for River Hill to lose its first game since the 2006 Class 2A state championship, despite numerous chances to score.

Four River Hill drives ended inside the Huntingtown 20-yard line, two of them on the Huntingtown 1. The Hawks had five turnovers and gave the ball back on downs twice.

"We just made too many mistakes. Way too many," Bonhag said. "It's the worst feeling."

Bose's first fumble recovery gave the Hurricanes the ball on the River Hill 11-yard line. Two plays later, Justin Bittner threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to David Stanley with 8:26 left in the first half to put Huntingtown ahead, 7-0.

Bose ended River Hill's next drive with an interception inside Huntingtown's 20. The Hawks then forced the Hurricanes to punt from their 19-yard line into a gusting wind which gave River Hill the ball inside the Huntingtown 30. McLaughlin scored five plays later on a 1-yard touchdown run to tie the game, 7-7, before halftime.

The second half was a battle for field position and a battle against the wind. Four Hurricanes' punts went for less than 20 yards.

"The wind played a factor in the game, a lot," Huntingtown coach Jerry Franks said. "We played well, and I'm happy for the win, but the wind was just unbelievable. It hurt both teams."

The field, more mud than grass, was also a factor for River Hill. The Hawks were unable to get the outside running game of Wake Forest-bound Kevin Johnson involved. He only managed about 25 yards and Brent Kluge (63 yards) had to carry much of the load by pounding the ball through the middle.

Defensively, River Hill contained Hurricanes running back Greg Goodwin, once nearly tackling him for a safety.

"River Hill fought hard ... their (defense) did a good job of containing me. It's my first game all year without a touchdown," Goodwin said.

The Hawks held Goodwin to 120 yards, 80 below his per game average, on 32 carries.

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