The Madison-Grant Argylls, ranked fourth in the latest state poll, traveled to Hagerstown on Friday, Nov. 1, to play the Hagerstown Tigers for the right to advance to the sectional championship game on Nov. 8.
The Tigers forced a fumble the first time the heavily favored Argylls carried the ball and played them on even terms for the first seven minutes. OJ Blackwell broke free for a 14-yard touchdown run and then scored on a 2-point conversion with 4:56 remaining in the first quarter, giving the Argylls a lead they would never surrender.
Hagerstown put together a sustained drive late in the first quarter that stalled out on the 7-yard line with seconds to go. The Argylls took control of the game in the second quarter. On their fourth play from scrimmage Cole Stitt broke through the line and sprinted 79 yards to score, followed by a 2-point conversion from Andy Stanley that gave the Argylls a 16-0 lead at the 10:57 mark. Three minutes later Kaagen Kendall scored on a 1-yard plunge and then completed a 2-point conversion to Isaac Schmitz to cut the MG lead to 16-8.
The Argylls responded with a 4-yard TD run from Rosin White at the 4:17 mark and scored again as time expired on a 3-yard run by Blackwell. They added 2-point conversions each time to take a 32-8 lead into halftime.
The Argylls added a third-quarter touchdown on a 48-yard play and then triggered a running clock with a touchdown with 7:05 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Tigers scored on a 32-yard touchdown pass reception by Zach Golliher with one minute left in the game to make the final score 45-14. Complete statistics were not available for Madison-Grant, but they gained 280 yards rushing in the first half and did not attempt a pass until the second half.
Hagerstown was held to only 56 yards rushing. Aiden Grover led with 22 yards. The Tigers completed 13 of 25 pass attempts for 215 yards. Kaagen Kendall was 11-23 for 139 yards and a touchdown. Zach Golliher and Roy Thornbury each completed long halfback option passes — Golliher for 40 yards, Thornbury for 36 yards.
Cale Schmitz led the defense with 14 tackles. Kendall and Will Combs each added 12 tackles. Combs and Leyton Berger each had fumble recoveries and Kaden Hall blocked a PAT attempt.
“It is hard to see these kids leave the field for the last time,” Hagerstown head coach Scott Snodgrass said. “They have done everything we asked of them. I am proud of every one of them. Madison-Grant is a very good team but we never quit fighting.”
It was the last game in a Hagerstown football uniform for seniors Grant Childs, Will Combs, Karson Davis, Zach Golliher, Aiden Grover, Anthony Kelley, Kaagen Kendall, Will King, Colten McMillan, Levi Slavin and Roy Thornbury.
Madison-Grant (10-1) 8 24 7 6 45
Hagerstown (4-7) 0 8 0 6 14
A version of this article appeared in the November 6 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.