2 weeks Ago
Historically speaking, football wins for Hanahan in its rivalry with Timberland have been extremely difficult to come by. On Friday, Sept. 20, though, the visiting Hawks managed to notch one in the win column against the Wolves behind a stingy defensive effort and a solid showing from a freshman quarterback making his first varsity start.
Hanahan’s defense had five takeaways and youngster Tripp Gallus passed for a score and ran for another in the Hawks’ 23-6 victory in St. Stephen. “I’m really proud of our guys,” Hanahan coach Milan Turner said.
“I thought (Gallus) did a really nice job managing the game and made some big plays for us. They were loading the box on us and we were still able to run the football. Very proud of our offensive line.
Defensively, it was a lot of the same. We were able to create a lot of chaos up front.” The Hawks (2-3) recovered four fumbles and made an interception in taking out the Wolves for only the fourth time since 2003.
Timberland (3-2) had won five of six and 17 of the previous 20 encounters. Gallus finished 11-of-17 for 95 yards in the air and tallied 36 of his 39 rushing yards on a nice fourth-down play along the sideline in the third quarter. The scamper answered Timberland’s lone touchdown from four minutes earlier, a 30-yard pass from Malyk Goodman to Jorden Timmons, and put the Hawks on top 20-6 with 4:05 left in the period.
One play earlier on the same sideline, Gallus took a hard shot, but popped right back up. “He’s a gutsy kid,” Turner said. “That’s why he’s back there.
He doesn’t get lost in the moment. He had a couple plays earlier where he missed on a pass play or two, but he’s on to the next play, which is what I love about him. He took a couple shots, but when you call his number he’s ready to go.
Man, he really tight-roped that sideline. That was a huge play.” Hanahan running back Travis Neal took pressure off the new quarterback by churning out 120 yards on 27 carries, capping Hanahan’s first drive with a 25-yard touchdown run less than five minutes into the game.
“He’s such a powerful runner,” Turner said. “We told him we were going to put it on his shoulders. He loves it.
He’s all about it. He runs hard. You saw that tonight.
” Today's Top Headlines Story continues below Later in the first half, Gallus and Tre Shepard hooked up on a 26-yard touchdown pass to put the Hawks up 13-0 with 3:54 remaining in the second quarter. “What we’re telling him right now is he has the ability to make a lot of plays for us,” Turner said. “What we need him to do is manage the game, put us in good situations and not make bad ones.
” Still a two-possession game in the fourth quarter, kicker Sam Campbell iced it for the Hawks on a 22-yard field goal with 2:38 remaining. Former starting quarterback Julius Hippenstiel moved over to defensive back, but is still seeing reps in practice at quarterback. "We needed some help on the back end in coverage," Turner said, "and somebody to come down from that safety spot.
He's such a good athlete, he can play any position for us. It's just moving pieces around to get the best team on the field we can." Hanahan hosts Andrews Friday, Sept.
27, with a chance to pull even in non-region play. The Hawks open up their region slate Friday, Oct. 4, against Oceanside Collegiate.
Timberland is off Sept. 27 and travels to Burke for its region opener Oct. 4.
Goodman passed for 77 yards for the Wolves and Timmons made two grabs for 52 yards. Running back Deontae Cleveland added 43 yards on the ground..
