An instant classic between county rivals deserved extra treatment.
Happy Valley’s win over Hampton football was named the Male Game of the Year while Michael Harrah’s game-winning field goal with 11.8 seconds remaining was named the moment of the year.
Harrah kicked a 21-yard field goal with 11.8 seconds left as the Warriors captured a 17-16 thriller in front of a jam-packed JC Campbell Stadium on Friday night.
The heroics were set up by a defensive battle.The Bulldogs struck first as Hunter Davenport scored from 65-yards out on the first play of the game, and the conversion pushed the lead to 8-0 in the opening seconds.
Hampton was unable to capitalize on an interception on the next drive as the Warrior defense stalled the drive inside the 20.
The Warriors dug into the playbook and got no the board when Brayden Sams hit Dylan Street for a 45-yard touchdown on the wide receiver pass. Sage Haun hit Austin Hicks to tie the game at 8-8.
Neither team could take advantage of field position over the rest of the first half as the game remained tied at 8-8.
The score stayed knotted at 8-8 until Adam McClain scored on a three-yard run early in the fourth quarter. The two-point conversion was good for the Bulldogs.
Happy Valley answered as Haun found Street for a 55-yard screen pass to close the gap within two with 6:07 to play. However, the conversion attempt failed as a personal foul backed up the Warriors on the try.
Happy Valley set-up the winning drive by holding the Bulldogs on a fourth and seven with just under three minutes to play. It was the fourth time that Hampton had been denied on fourth down.
The Warriors methodically moved down the field to set up the winning field goal.
Davenport led Hampton with 20 carries for 133 yards. McClain added 25 carries for 111 yards.
Happy Valley saw Street nab eight catches for 150 yards while Haun went 8-of-19 passing for 169 yards. Hicks and Dustun Sams had 51 and 41 yards, respectively.
