SECTION 4 FOOTBALL: AFTER SLOW START, HORSEHEADS PULLS AWAY TO CLINCH DIVISION TITLE, HOMEFIELD FOR PLAYOFFS (24 PHOTOS) (2024-11-01)
By Brian FeesSouthern Tier Sports ReportHORSEHEADS — The first half wasn’t what the Horseheads football team had wanted.
But, Friday the Blue Raiders showed they were able to respond to adversity as they scored the final 33 points of the game on their way to a 33-6 win over Union-Endicott on Friday night.
“The first half, really sloppy, a lot of penalties,” Horseheads coach Kevin Hillman said. “Kind of got us behind the eight-ball a little bit. That first touchdown they had we kind of gambled on with the blitz and they caught us and they took it to the house.
“I thought the guys responded. With all the penalties and stuff like that, they put themselves in bad positions. But, they didn’t want tot falter, they regrouped. We talked about that throughout the year, so I thought that as a good job. Obviously we were not happy with the first half. But, I thought the second half they came out and played a lot better.”
The win wraps up home field advantage throughout the playoffs and the division title for the Blue Raiders.
“That’s kind of what you are playing for all year is to have that opportunity and to seal it up today is huge,” Hillman said. “Not having to travel, hopefully or two weeks, that’s a big thing. We are excited. The kids earned it, now it’s time to get to work.”
Union-Endicott struck first, just 1:02 into the game as Robert Mabry Jr. took off on a 66-yard touchdown run. The two-point try failed and it was 6-0 Tigers.
Horseheads answered with 4:33 left in the opening quarter as Lucas Mosher scored on a 17-yard run. Trevor Reidy hit the extra point to put Horseheads up 7-0, a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
The game stayed 7-6 until the final minutes of the half when Bryce Thomas scored on an 11-yard run with 1:42 left before the break. Reidy hit the kick and it was 14-6 at the break.
In the second half Jaxson Burchard exploded for an 86-yard touchdown run at 8:57 of the third quarter and Reidy hit the kick.
Thomas then scored on a 54-yard run with 4:35 left in the quarter and the kick failed.
“The first half was slow, but we came out, didn’t let them score and just drove down the field and didn’t let them come back at all,” Peckham said. “I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Seven seconds into the fourth quarter Dom Cardinale hit Miles Woodhouse, who lateraled to lineman Peckham, who scored from nine yards out to cap the scoring.
The play to Peckham was something the Blue Raiders have been working on for weeks.
“We have been working on that for a ew weeks, and just trying to get an opportunity,” Hillman said. “We got it down by the (end zone). I was a little worried being further away (from the end zone). I didn’t know how long he could take it. But, we had the opportunity and he did a great job. A little nimble on the sideline keeping his feet in. Of course he comes off the field and says I am a running back at heart coach.”
Peckham was trying to convince the coaches to run the play throughout the drive.
“That whole drive I was in his ear, I was ready for it,” Peckham said.
Peckham did tell coach he was a running back at heart.
“I’m a fullback at heart, let’s go,” Peckham said.
He’d love to now get a carry sometime.
“I want it, next week, I want it,” Peckham said.
Thomas ran for 118 yards on nine carries, while Burchard had three carries for 101 yards and Mosher gained 69 yards on 11 carries. Horseheads ran for 276 yards as a team in the game.
Cardinale completed four passes for 32 yards. Stevens had two grabs for 14 yards and Miles Woodhouse had two for nine yards.
Mary Jr. ran for 85 yards on 15 carries.
The playoffs start next week as Horseheads hosts Binghamton at 6 p.m. Friday night in the sectional semifinals.
“It feels great, we have our home crowd with us now,” Hillman said. “They are going to be rocking with us. Big advantage for us.”
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES
PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE GAME:
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