On Friday, Sept. 27, the varsity football team hosted the Tigers of Moon Area High School. Through four hard-fought quarters and one overtime, the Hawks came out of top 23-16.

Late in the first quarter, the Hawks were backed up on their own 2-yard line, and the Tigers got a sack in the endzone to put the first points on the board and make the score 2-0 Tigers. However, the rest of the first quarter was a defensive standoff, not letting either team in the endzone.

At the start of the second quarter, Moon drove down the field and scored to bring their lead to 9-0. Then, the Hawks got the ball back and did the same; they drove down the field and Sean McGowen punched it in for a touchdown. The Moon Tigers went into halftime with the two-point advantage.

Coming out of halftime, Moon had the ball; however, an interception by Will Patrizio gave the ball back to the Hawks. The Hawks then ran down the field and Sean McGowen, once again, ran in for six. The Hawks took the lead 13-9. For the rest of the quarter, the Hawks kept the Tigers out of the endzone.

Early in the fourth quarter, both teams were forced to punt. The Hawks had the ball on the 10-yard line but fumbled.

The Tigers, with good field position, scored on two plays. The score was now 16-13, Moon, with 5:42 to go in the fourth quarter.

The Hawks drained the clock and got the ball into field goal range. With 14 seconds left in the fourth quarter, John Gummo came on to kick the game-tying field goal to send the game into overtime. He nailed it.

The Hawks got the ball to start OT and scored on just three plays. Jack Evans ran it in from the 1-yard line. Moon now had the ball from the 10. On the second play of Moon’s drive, Will Patrizio forced a fumble and Ty Thimons scooped it up to seal the deal. The students rushed the field and all you saw was purple.

The Hawks, now 4-1, take on the Colts of Chartiers Valley, 2-4, on Friday, Oct. 4. The theme is PINK OUT. Come out and support.