Stuart Cramer Takes Down Hunter Huss In Overtime, Dashes Huskies Conference Title Hopes

                Coming into this game, both teams had a lot on the line. The Hunter Huss Huskies were trying to keep pace with conference front-runner, Kings Mountain. The Storm was trying to stay in the hunt for a good playoff spot. Neither team’s offense could muster any points in the first half. The Huskies looked like they were going to get the first points on the board, but a field goal attempt by Trevor Hargett was blocked.

                The first score of the game would be a defensive special teams play. Backed up near their own end zone, Hunter Huss was forced to punt. But the Storm’s John Griffin blocked the punt and it was recovered in the end zone by Landon Helton. Devin Baldwin’s extra point kick made it 7-0.

                The Huskies drove down the field to answer that score, but they would be stopped on 4^th-and-goal from the one-yard line. They would not let the Storm get out of the shadow of their end zone however. When the Huskies forced them to punt, Tony Davis took the punt return 32 yards for what would be a touchdown, but an illegal block brought it back. The score would remain 7-0 at half-time.

                On their first drive, the Huskies finally put together a successful drive. Dallas Danner’s explosive 77-yard run up the middle gave the Huskies their first points of the game. Trevor Hargett’s kick tied it up at 7-7. Jaylen Rocquemore’s seven-yard run for a touchdown put the Storm back on top 14-7 in the third quarter.

                The Huskies would tie it up in the fourth quarter with a two-yard run by quarterback Zo Wallace. That play was set up by a 34-yard pass from Wallace to Chase Nixon. The Storm had plenty of time to get a game-winning drive going. But on 3^rd-and-2 near the Huskies 30-yard line, a false start would back them up and they ended up turning it over on downs.

                It was the Huskies turn to try and go a game-winning drive. But Wallace was intercepted by Landon Helton on a deep pass and he took it into Huskies territory near the 45. On the ensuing drive, Jaylen Rocquemore was intercepted by Tony Davis on a deep pass inside the five-yard line. Hunter Huss would opt to play for overtime. Prior to those two turnovers, there was only one turnover and that was a fumble by Kaiser Kayton that was recovered by Hunter Huss’s Chase Nixon.

                The Storm got the ball first in overtime and on the first play, Rocquemore took the ball the whole ten yards for a touchdown. Devin Baldwin’s kick made it 21-14. Disaster struck on the Huskies second play in overtime, as the Huskies would fumble. Stuart Cramer’s Dylan Collins recovered the fumble to seal the deal for the Storm. Along with the fumble recovery, Collins registered 1.5 sacks and 2 TFL’s.

                Dallas Danner led all rushers with 163 yards and a touchdown. Zo Wallace Amassed 135 yards passing and a rushing touchdown. Jalen Rocquemore led the Storm offense with 103 yards (57 rushing and 46 passing) Kaiser Kayton and Tyreese Morris combined for 112 yards rushing.

                “I’m super proud of our guys. We fought through this whole game. They came through and finished the game in the end.” said Cramer head coach Ben McMillan “Our defense played exceptional all night except for two big plays. The goal line stand was huge, the blocked punt was huge. Our defense just did an outstanding job. Hats off to Hunter Huss. They played awesome tonight.”

                Not only was it the Storm’s first win over county rival, Hunter Huss. It was their first ever overtime game. The Huskies will not repeat as Big South conference champs.

                “We got to figure out which team is going to show up. Are we going to have the team that beat Crest show up or are we going to have that team that lost to Kings Mountain show up.” said Hunter Huss head coach Jamar McCoy “Bottom line, offense has to match what defense does. Defense played an excellent, excellent ball game tonight. The offense did not even match it. Offense has been so sporadic this year that it’s not even funny. We put so much pressure on the defense to bail us out. We have to do better offensively. It’s a must, a stone cold must. Come Monday, there’s going to be a reckoning.”

                Stuart Cramer travels to Forestview next week. The Jaguars (3-7)(2-4) lost 63-7 to Kings Mountain. Hunter Huss will host arch-rival, Ashbrook. The Green Wave (4-6)(3-3) won 48-40 over North Gaston.