Friday Night Lights 2013: Week 5
The Hempstead–City High game at Bates Field tonight turned into a nail-biter.
The Little Hawks chose to receive the opening kickoff and drew first blood on the ensuing drive, scoring on the ground. A failed PAT made the score 6-0. Hempstead then pushed the ball down the field on their first drive, converting through the air and on the ground on short third-downs. The drive stalled and Hempstead settle for a field goal, punched through the uprights by their impressive kicker. The kid had a cannon attached to his hip.
City High would score again on the ground and recover the missed PAT with a two-point conversion. However, the drive came at a price as the Little Hawks lost a starting lineman to a knee injury; he spent the rest of the game leaning on crutches along the sideline. City High also lost a running back, making them somewhat one-dimensional offensively for the rest of the game.
Thankfully that one-dimension is one hell of a running back. City High always seems to have a workhorse, backfield player who can do it all, and Xavier Washpun is that guy this year. Not only is he an elusive and powerful runner, he’s a worthy defender. With the score 14-10, the Mustangs’ QB handed the ball to their running back up the middle on the first play of a drive. It looked like he was stuffed, but out of the scrum shot Washpun toward the end zone with the ball. There were no whistles until he crossed the goal line for the defensive touchdown. Everyone in the stadium seemed a little stunned. Regardless, it was 21-10 at the half after City High missed a last second field goal attempt.
The second half was a defensive battle, but Hempstead eventually stole the momentum on a long touchdown pass, cutting the lead to 21-17. City High sputtered offensively. Without their second running back, the Little Hawks became predictable. I mean, one can only run up the middle so many times before the defense finally figures it out. City High passed a number of times with limited success, but it was Washpun, Washpun, Washpun. He must have carried the ball thirty-five times tonight. Hempstead’s running game had begun to dominate and the Mustangs took the lead, 24-21, early in the fourth quarter.
Things were getting very interesting. On City High’s ensuing drive, the QB tried to throw the ball away but his pass was intercepted and Hempstead took control. After a three-and-out, City High got the ball back with under five minutes left in the game. The Little Hawks slowly drove the ball down the field as the clock continued to run. Eight yards here, five yards there. Another five yards. City High’s QB kept the ball a couple times, and even rolled out for an option that was read well by the Mustang defense. The clock kept running, but the Little Hawks kept getting closer and closer to the end zone. With less than a minute to go, City High was inside the Hempstead five. Hempstead called a time out to save some time for themselves, and Washpun finally punched it in for the touchdown with about 45 seconds left.
“This game’s not over,” my dad said as we cheered. Duh. I have watched enough football games in my life to know that.
The extra point after Washpun’s touchdown was crucial. Everybody in the home stands had been impressed by the Hempstead kicker and knew he could probably tie the game from fifty if he needed to. A four-point cushion would nullify the chances of that.
The teams lined up for the PAT and Hempstead stacked the line. The Mustang linemen rocked back and forth, ready to punch. The ball was snapped and the kick was… BLOCKED.
The visiting stands erupted. With the score 27-24, there was still hope.
The Mustangs received the kickoff and ran it to near midfield. Uh oh. Hempstead worked the sideline with a couple passes, stopping the clock and saving their final time out. They pushed the ball to City High’s 28-yard-line, where they were faced with fourth-and-inches with fifteen seconds left. Hempstead’s kicker trotted onto the field and the Little Hawks took their final time out to ice him. I was certain he could make it from there, regardless. The only problem for Hempstead was that the ball was spotted on the right hashmark, making it a difficult angle for a righty. He lined up, the holder received the snap, and the ball sailed toward the uprights. It lingered in the air and the referee between the goal posts watched its flight. He moved to his left and I thought for sure the ball would just sneak through the corner. However, he signed that the kick was no good while it was still in the air. I assume it was wide right.
What a game. I’ll admit it, too: I was shaking from anxiety at the end.
