Hawks down the Bishops in 37-7 win
See Hanahan. See Hanahan run the football. See Hanahan win.
Hanahan topped rival Bishop England 37-7 Friday night in the Hawks’ homecoming game, and the game plan was elementary.
Coach David Morbitzer came up with a strategy that focused on the run, and the Hawks executed it to near perfection against the Bishops. The Hawks churned for 383 yards in total offense with 364 coming on the ground. The Hawks chewed up the clock with long drives and came up with big, gashing runs to improve to 2-3, including 1-0 in Region 8-AAA play.
“I’m very happy,” said Morbitzer, who is in his first year as head coach of the Hawks. “Our game plan was to establish the running game, and we executed it early. The defense did a great job as well. I’m very proud of our team, for sure.”
The Hawks, who were blanked by Timberland the week before, jumped out to a 14-0 lead at the end of the half and the Bishops didn’t find the endzone until late in the fourth quarter.
Gale Ball and Shiron Hart did most of the damage against the Bishops. Ball collected 207 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries while Hart carried 16 times for 102 yards and a score.
“Gale is our faster back,” Morbitzer said. “He can hit the edge and does a good job of running between the tackles. Shiron Hart is more overpowering, a little bit more physical. Having two backs there is a good thing. Both did a great job.”
Bishop England fell to 1-4, 0-1. The Bishops once again struggled to get the offense going. They have scored only 66 points in five games and 32 came in the Bishops’ only victory against Philip Simmons High School.
The Bishops gained 201 yards in total offense with 181 yards on the ground.
Eddie Marinaro carried 25 times for 120 yards while Michael Long rushed for 52 yards and a touchdown. Marinaro passed six times, completing two for 20 yards.
“We had great play from our defensive line and our linebackers were flying around,” Morbitzer said. “We put pressure on them.”
The Bishops host Waccamaw Friday in their homecoming game. Waccamaw enters the game winless in four games. The Hawks travel to play Academic Magnet.
Morbitzer said the victory was a great way to start region play.
“Before the game, I told the kids we were 0-0,” he said. “The next five weeks count and it’s a second season. What we do in that stretch will determine the region championship. We took our first step Friday.”
IRON HORSES FALL
Timberland was too much for the Philip Simmons football team as the Wolves rolled to a 59-0 victory in a Region 6-AA game.
Timberland upped its record to 3-2, 1-0 while the Iron Horses fell to 1-5, 0-1.
Philip Simmons will try to snap a three-game losing streak this Friday at home when they take on North Charleston, a team that has lost four games in a row after winning its season-opener.