Tigers use big plays late to defeat Bears

The Hagerstown football team traveled to Parker City on Friday, Oct. 31, for a sectional semifinal game with Monroe Central for the right to play the sectional championship game. It was only the second meeting between the two schools in football and the first in postseason play. 

The game was a defensive slobberknocker for three quarters. Neither team could generate consistent offense, leaving the teams deadlocked in a scoreless tie entering the fourth quarter. 

Hagerstown executed its first big-gain play late in the third quarter when Isaac Schmitz connected with Jaxon Hale on a 41-yard halfback pass to the 18-yard line, but the Tigers lost yards on the next three plays and turned the ball over on downs. 

Entering the final period, both veteran coaches went back to the drawing board looking for a play that could break the tie. The Tigers finally put points on the scoreboard with 10:58 remaining in the fourth quarter on a 25-yard pass from Arlin Berger to Isaac Schmitz. Cale Schmitz booted the extra point to extend the lead to 7-0. 

The Bears answered with a 55-yard pass play from Carson Siekmann to Kyler Bogue to cut the Tiger lead to 7-6. The Bears opted to go for a two-point conversion to try to take the lead. A pitch from Siekmann to Caleb Luedike, who threw a pass to Griffin Gannom, propelled the Bears to an 8-7 lead with 6:15 remaining in the game.

The Tigers retook the lead with 4:19 remaining on a 57-yard touchdown pass from Berger to Isaac Schmitz, who successfully eluded two tacklers on the play and raced down the sideline to score. The Tigers completed a pass to Fletcher Callahan for a two-point conversion to retake the lead 15-8. 

Less than 30 seconds later, the Tigers recovered a fumble from the Bears. With 2:05 remaining, Lincoln Small broke free for a 43-yard touchdown run and Cale Schmitz added the extra point to put the game out of reach. The game ended on an unsuccessful 42-yard field goal attempt by the Bears with 15 seconds left before the Tigers went into victory formation and took a knee to run out the clock. 

Berger completed 10 of 21 pass attempts for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Isaac Schmitz was 1-1 for 41 yards, and he caught four passes for 87 yards and two TDs. Hale caught three passes for 52 yards, Fletcher Callahan caught three passes for 25 yards, including a two-point conversion. Small was the leading ground gainer with 90 yards on 20 carries. 

Siekmann completed 10 of 28 pass attempts for 159 yards and one touchdown. Bogue caught four passes for 122 yards and a touchdown. Ethan Hunt was the leading rusher for the Bears, gaining 65 yards on seven carries.

Cale Schmitz led the Tigers’ defense with 13 tackles. Gus Golliher had nine tackles, and Isaac Schmitz and Nick Tinkle each had eight. Travis Reed had 10 tackles to lead the Bears. 

The Tigers will travel to Berne on Friday, Nov. 7, to face South Adams for the sectional championship. 

Hagerstown (5-6)           0   0   0   22   22

Monroe Central (5-6)      0   0   0    8     8