MOHAWK 20, MCCOMB 13
By Kyle Holsinger
SYCAMORE — Mohawk advanced to the Division VII, Region 26 semifinals after defeating McComb at home last night, 20-13. The Warriors earned their first ten-win season since 2018.
“We made it happen,” Mohawk coach Eric Daniel said. “Our boys rallied, made it happen. And things were a little dicey there in the second half…it was just incredible.”
After forcing the Panthers to punt on their opening drive, Mohawk (10-2) scored on their first play from scrimmage when quarterback Ben Bogner threw a deep pass to the left to Kahne Hayman. Hayman was able to shake off his defender in the process and sprint the rest of the way for a 68-yard touchdown reception. Aden Patrizi’s point-after-try was good, and the Warriors were ahead just three three minutes into the game, 7-0.
McComb (8-4) picked up a couple first downs on the ground and another from a facemark penalty on the Warriors to get down to the Mohawk 13-yard line. Back-to-back tackles-for-loss by the Warrior defense left the Panthers with a fourth-and-14 situation at their opponent’s 17. McComb QB Grady Schroeder rolled out and was sacked by sophomore linebacker Kaden Bish for a tunrover-on-downs.
Mohawk turned the ball over on downs themselves on their next possession after Bogner’s 34-yard scramble got the Red & Black into Panther territory. McComb senior Elijah Gibbs sacked Bogner on fourth-and-13 to give the Panthers the ball at their own 43.
That’s when McComb’s Brayden Shoop blasted through the right guard and tackle then took it outside and down the right sideline for a 57-yard touchdown run. The Panthers’ PAT was no good and the score stood at 7-6 in favor of Mohawk just fifteen seconds into the second quarter.
The Warriors wasted no time responding with a score of their own. On the third play of their next drive, Bogner hit Kaleb Bish ten yards down the field and Bish took it the rest of the way for a 58-yard scoring strike. Patrizi’s kick was good to extend the Warriors’ lead, 14-6, with 10:33 remaining in the first half.
McComb was forced to punt and a 16-yard return by Hayman gave the Warriors the ball at midfield. Two plays later, Bogner tossed a deep pass to Hayman for a 36-yard gain to get down to the Panther 14. Two Bogner keepers in a row gave Mohawk a first-and-goal scenario at the Panther 3. Three plays later, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Warriors moved them back to the McComb 16 facing fourth-and-goal. Bogner attempted to scramble from the Panthers’ defensive pressure and lost 14 yards on the play while turning the ball over on downs.
Mohawk was able to get the ball back at the McComb 34 after an 18-yard punt return by Kaleb Bish. Bish’s number was called again the next play when Bogner connected with him over the middle for a 21-yard catch. Three plays later, Bogner was picked off in the end zone by McComb’s Shoop who retuned the ball 21 yards to the Panther 20.
The score stayed 14-6 in favor of the Warriors heading into the half.
The Warriors turned their opening drive of the second half into a seven play, 65-yard scoring drive. A defensive pass interference call moved Mohawk into Panther territory. The next play, Bogner kept it to the right for 27 yards. On third-and-two, a five-yard keeper by Bogner set himself up for a one-yard score on first-and-goal the following play. Mohawk missed the PAT, but were still up 20-6 with 9:03 to go in the third quarter.
A short kickoff gave the Panthers great field position around midfield to start their next drive. Shoop started things off with a 12-yard scamper up the middle to get into enemy territory to the Mohawk 44.
McComb was able to get Mohawk to jump offside on a fourth-and-two to give the Panthers a first down at the Warrior 21. Three plays later, on third-and-four, two personal fouls for unsportsmanlike conduct against the Warriors moved McComb down to the two-yard line.
McComb’s Schroeder ran it in from there. The PAT was good and McComb trailed 20-13 with 4:13 left in the third quarter.
McComb failed to move the ball in the fourth quarter against Mohawk, and the Warriors were able to hang on with their lead intact.
“I think they had some kids make some plays, and we had too many penalties.” McComb coach Kris Alge said. “Every time we get something going on offense, we get a holding call or we get a run called back. It’s hard to get into a rhythm when it’s first-and-20.”
Mohawk had 217 yards passing and 99 yards rushing for 316 total offensive yards.
Bogner completed 5-of-13 passes for 217 yards, two passing TDs, and two interceptions. The senior also rushed for 84 yards and a TD. Hayman had three receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown. Kaleb Bish had two receptions for 79 yards and a TD.
McComb rushed for 166 yards and passed for 178 yards.
Shoop had 17 rushes for 120 yards and a TD.
Both teams combined for negative-one yards passing in the second half.
Mohawk faces Columbus Grove (12-0) at a yet-to-be determined neutral site next Friday.
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