Hawks advance to third round of playoffs after 'best game of season'
The Hanahan High School football team shone in all phases of the game last weekend, posting a 34-0 victory over Aynor in the second round of the Class AAA playoffs.
“It was our best game of the season,” Hanahan coach David Morbitzer said after the Hawks rolled to their seventh straight victory. “The offense, defense and special teams did a good job. It was a complete game.”
This week, Morbitzer needs a complete game in all three phases of the attack as they prepare for a third-round game against Wade Hampton, which will also be a home encounter. The Hawks host Wade Hampton, a team that runs an old fashioned wing-T, a formation only a handful of schools use, which relies on options, misdirection and counters. That means the scout team will have to do a good job of replicating Wade Hampton’s offense.
“It’s all about preparation and getting a game plan ready,” said Morbitzer, whose team is 8-3. “The scout team will have a key role in our preparation because we haven’t seen the wing-T. This week will involve the whole team. Everyone buys in. We have to be mentally focused.”
Wade Hampton is coached by the legendary Jerry Brown, who spent many years at the helm of the Berkeley Stags. His team improved to 9-2 after a 28-14 victory at Strom Thurmond.
Pernell Maxwell did most of the damage as he rushed for 175 yards and three touchdowns.
The Hawks used the same routine to reach the third round of the playoffs. They totaled 310 yards in total offense with 233 yards coming on the ground.
Gale Ball carried 10 times for 62 yards and scored two touchdowns, while Shiron Hart carried 12 times for 52 yards as he and Ball churned for the tough yardage. Luke Mills made the most of his five carries, gaining 102 yards for a 20.4 yards per carry average. He scored two touchdowns. His TDs came on runs of 60 and 23 yards.
Quarterback Mac Blakeney completed 5 of 9 for 77 yards, and threw a 48-yard TD pass to Wesley Crain.
Once again, the defense fared well with the shutout. The Hawks have now allowed only 49 points in the last seven games.
The Hawks held Aynor to only 236 yards to run their record at home to 6-1. Luke Mills led the defense with 11 tackles while Alex Herriot tallied seven stops. Andre Brewington also had a big game with six tackles and a sack.
“We are definitely doing well,” said Morbitzer, who is in his first year as head coach and already has almost as many wins than the Hawks combined for the past two seasons before he took over the top job.
“The players have come up with some big plays and the coaches have come up with some great game plans,” Morbitzer said. That’s what you hope for as a head coach. “We just have to play our game this weekend and let the offense keep our defense off the field. They have some really good players and it will be a challenge.”