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WILMINGTON — The New Hanover football team made enough plays on both sides of the ball and limited miscues on special teams as the Wildcats pulled away in the fourth quarter Friday in a 34-21 victory over Hoggard at Scott Braswell Stadium.
With the win, New Hanover took the inside track for a division title. The winner of this rivalry game has decided the conference champion in each of the past three seasons. The Wildcats improved to 1-0 in league play and 3-3 overall. Meanwhile, the Vikings dropped to 1-1 in conference and 2-5 on the year.
Wiz Vaughn accounted for two touchdowns in the result, with 106 yards of total offense, including 85 yards on the ground. He put New Hanover on the board with 00:59 seconds to go in the first quarter after getting touches on three straight plays. A 20-yard completion from Blake Walston to Vaughn on 3rd and 11 from inside their own five yard line gave the Wildcats some room to operate and Vaughn took the next snap 50 yards to get deep into Hoggard territory. One play later, the junior play-maker took a 19 yard trip to the end zone to give New Hanover a 7-0 lead.
That drive all Wiz Vaughn! A 50+ yd run, a 20+yd catch and a 19yd TD on 4th and 2 @NHHSFootball16 7-0, end of 1st Qtr pic.twitter.com/OevqGez2go
— Joe Catenacci (@JoeCats19) September 30, 2016
A blocked punt by the Wildcats on the opening possession of the game was the precursor leading into a long night for the Vikings’ special teams unit. Both teams had two takeaways, including a pair of fumble recoveries by New Hanover defensive tackle Jomaious Williams. Reece Moulton and Isaiah Kemp each had an interception for Hoggard, but miscues in the third facet of football proved to be a difference maker.
Isiah Kemp gets the ball back for @JTH_Vikings w an interception! Hoggard back in the red zone down 7-0 4:31 till half @PortCityDaily pic.twitter.com/01Yh7gQkcc
— Joe Catenacci (@JoeCats19) September 30, 2016
The Vikings were able to move the ball on the ground during most of the night and rushed for 140 yards during the first half. A three-yard touchdown run by Josh Jones capped a 76 yard drive in the second quarter to tie the game 7-7 heading into the break.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BK_83UqAyvj/?taken-by=joecats19
A big break in the game came with 8:15 to play in the third quarter when a muffed punt by Hoggard allowed Kris Taylor to scoop up the loose ball and return the kick 44 yards to give New Hanover the 14-7 edge. A lack of coverage on the punt saw Taylor with nothing but green grass in front of him as the junior made a heads up play to pick up the pigskin and take it down the near sideline.
The Vikings responded on the next possession when Jones hit a wide open Chet Radack for a 37-yard score to level the score heading into a crucial drive moving into the final period.
Walston and the New Hanover offense converted three third downs on the next possession and Keegan Santos took the first play of the fourth quarter 17 yards for the touchdown as New Hanover grabbed a lead it would not relinquish.
Hoggard still had a chance to even the score, but the Vikings couldn’t execute the snap on a punting situation nearing the six minute mark of the fourth quarter and gave the Wildcats a chance to put the game away. Two plays later Javeon Hall punched it in from two yards out to gain the two-sore advantage.
Williams finished with six tackles, two fumble recoveries and tackle for loss. Troy McCaskill and Nas Brown each had one sack, while Jahann Simmons deflected a pass early in the game. Grant Daley also had a strong game at inside linebacker. Offensively, Lamont Howard made a nice grab streaking along the sideline for 36 yards and Malcolm Hill made two grabs for 48 yards.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLAKaprAzna/?taken-by=joecats19
Jones finished with two touchdown passes for Hoggard, including a 16 yard connection to Wallace with 4:15 to go in the game to pull the Vikings to within seven. The junior quarterback finished 10-of-22 in the air with three total scores. Wallace had 70 yards on the ground and Radack had a game-high four receptions for 93 yards.
New Hanover (1-0, 3-3) returns to Legion Stadium for its second in town matchup in as many weeks when the Wildcats face the streaking Laney Buccaneers (2-0, 5-2) on Friday, Oct. 7. Hoggard (1-1, 2-5) gets the week off before returning to action with a game at Laney on Friday, Oct. 14.
New Hanover 7-0-7-20=34
Hoggard 0-7-7-7=21
Scoring summary
First Quarter
New Hanover- Wiz Vaughn, 19 yard run, (PAT, Westley Gaines) :59
Second Quarter
Hoggard- Josh Jones, 3 yard run, (PAT, Will Morton)
Third Quarter
New Hanover- Kris Taylor, 44 yard punt return, (PAT, Gaines) 8:15
Hoggard- Josh Jones, 37 yard pass to Chet Radack, (PAT, Morton)
Fourth Quarter
New Hanover- Keegan Santos 19 yard run, (PAT, Gaines) 11:54
New Hanover- Javeon Hall, 2 yard run, (PAT, Gaines) 6:21
Hoggard- Josh Jones, 16 yard pass to Rashod Wallace, (PAT, Morton) 4:15
New Hanover- Wiz Vaughn, 5 yard run, (PAT no good)
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