In a Hard-Fought Battle, Hopewell Loses to Freeport, 35-25

Hopewell Township– In sports, there are certain phrases that are used a lot but that’s they’re true.

Things such as ‘it’s a 4-quarter game’, ‘penalties will kill you’ and ‘need touchdowns in the redzone’.

Those three things all rang true last night in the Hopewell/Freeport game and unfortunately for the Vikings, they were the reasons for them dropping a 35-25 decision.

The turning point in the game took place in the opening quarter as the Vikings had 3 possessions in Freeport’s redzone and were only able to score 6 points.

If two of those trips resulted in touchdowns, this likely would’ve been a different result.

On the opening drive of the game, Hopewell methodically drove down the field and reached the Freeport 4 yard line before being stopped. Rocco Marcantonio then came on converted a 24-yard field goal.

Then on Freeport’s second play of the game, Hopewell’s Brian McCabe recovered a fumble at the Freeport 37-yard line.

After picking up a first down, Hopewell was stopped on 3rd and 9. Marcantonio then came on and kicked a 39-yard FG. Hopewell led 6-0.

After a long kickoff return, Freeport took over at the Hopewell 42-yard line.

The Vikings looked to be in a position to stop them following a McCabe sack but Freeport converted a 4th down and after two Hopewell facemask penalties, the Yellow Jackets scored the first TD of the game. Freeport 7-6.

The Vikings immediately responded on the ensuing drive and put it in the endzone.

The two key plays in the drive were two first down throws from quarterback James Armstrong to junior wide receiver Logan Triscilla, the second of which was a 3rd and 6 conversion. For the game, Triscilla had 5 catches for 66 yards.

Hopewell eventually scored their first touchdown on a 46-yard run by Armstrong. By the way, it was Armstrong’s 15th birthday!

Hopewell now led 13-7.

On the ensuing kickoff, freshman Brody Rock forced a fumble and Hopewell took over at the Yellow Jackets 20 yard line.

Unfortunately, Hopewell went 3 and out. To make matters worse, Marcantonio’s 30-yard FG attempt was blocked.

So, instead of going up 20-7 or even 16-7, the score remained 13-7 at the half.

Despite completely dominating possession the first two quarters, forcing 3 turnovers, including an interception late in the half by freshman safety Avery Bokor and holding Freeport to 38 total yards, Hopewell only led by 6 points.

Freeport got the second half kickoff and scored in 54 seconds on 2 plays, including another big kickoff return. Freeport 14-13.

Hopewell then drove the field and looked as though they’d answer with points.

After a couple penalties, Hopewell had 3rd and 16 but converted as Armstrong threw a 31-yard dart if a slant pass to Triscilla into Freeport territory.

However, a couple more penalties pushed Hopewell back and the drive eventually stalled on an interception on a deep 3rd and 24 pass. For the game, Hopewell committed 12 penalties for 105 yards.

Hopewell’s defense forced a punt and the offense came through with their second touchdown of the game.

The drive started with a 12-yard pass from Armstrong to Triscilla. Then with 9 seconds left in the quarter on 3rd and 9, Armstrong connected with junior tight end Jake Pollick for a 26-yard Touchdown. That was Pollick’s first varsity touchdown. Congrats Jake!

That touchdown made it 21-19 and Hopewell web for the 2-point conversion to tie it but were stopped.

Freeport’s duo of quarterback Drew Ross and running back Amos Glenn controlled the second half and especially the 4th quarter m.

Those two scored touchdowns on consecutive drives to put Freeport up 35-19. For the game, Glenn finished with 125 yards rushing, while Ross accounted for 109 yards.

Hopewell scored a late touchdown on a 7-yard pass from Armstrong to Brody Rock, to cut the deficit to 35-25, which ended up as the final score.

For the game, Armstrong was 13 of 25 for 167 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions along with 122 rushing yards.

It sure looked as though Hopewell was the better team, unfortunately, the scoreboard didn’t show it.

Hopewell’s record fell to 4-4 with two games left at Central Valley and at North Catholic.