HUNTINGTON — University pulled off the road win on Friday, eliminating Huntington from the Class AAAA football playoffs with a 35-28 victory over the Highlanders at Bob Sang Stadium.
The No. 7-seed Hawks (9-3) scored three touchdowns in the third quarter to rally for the lead while No. 2-seed Huntington (9-3) struggled with turnovers, fumbling three times in the game and throwing two interceptions.
“We didn’t do a great job tonight of taking care of the football,” said Highlanders coach Billy Seals. “You know, it was a 5-1 turnover margin, you’re not going to win many games like that.”
Mayshaun Okonkwo rushed for 132 yards in the game to lead the Huntington offense that for much of the game was stymied by University’s defense. Quarterback Tayveon Wilson rushed for 69 yards and passed for 113.
The Hawks, with a balanced running attack that rushed for 156 total yards and aided by two Highlanders’ turnovers, kept the game close taking advantage in the second half. Jaedyn Katchur led the University ground attack with 95 yards on 21 carries.
“Our kids have been building up this momentum here for a while,” said University coach Eric Snyder, who in his second year called Friday’s win the biggest of his career. “It’s very nice to see how the kids have improved, how much my staff has done a magnificent job over the last 365 days.”
Huntington eliminated University from the 2024 playoffs 56-28 at Bob Sang Stadium last season in the first round.
University had to overcome its own turnover to start the game.
Tayveon Wilson intercepted University quarterback Harrison Helsig and returned it 60 yards for the first touchdown of the game. The Hawks got their first big break on Huntington’s next series.
Wilson fumbled on his own 1-yard-line, and it was recovered by University. On the next play, the Hawks’ Marcos Kniska took it in to tie the score 7-7 at the 6:43 mark of the first quarter.
Huntington accounted for its turnover with an eight-play, 80-yard drive that ended with Bryce Winkfield’s 2-yard run to put the Highlanders back into the lead, 14-7.
Mixing in passes with runs by Kniska and Jaedyn Katchur, University wasted no time tying the score. A seven-play drive ended Kelsig’s 6-yard TD pass to Kaliel Lewis that tied it again with 1:40 left in the first quarter.
The defenses for both teams took over in the second quarter until Huntington took over at its own 6 with 4:55 to play in the first half. The Highlanders needed nine plays, including a Wilson pass to Kellen Rife that covered 56 yards and set up Huntington at the University 2.
Wilson punched it in with 38 seconds to go in the first half to make it 21-14.
University took over in the third quarter.
Touchdown passes from Helbig – one to Hayden George and another to Jack Byrer – put University ahead 28-14. Byrer then took over at quarterback for an injured Helbig and ran for a 9-yard TD that put the Hawks ahead 35-21 with 1:16 to play in the quarter.
Huntington answered with one touchdown in the fourth quarter – a 6-yard run by Okonkwo that cut the lead to 35-28.
The Highlanders had two more drives to tie the game but were again victimized by turnovers, this time interceptions.
Wilson threw one pick before leaving the game. Backup Marek Midkiff threw one as Huntington was driving inside two minutes to play.
Having exhausted their timeouts, the Highlanders were unable to stop the clock.
University will await the winner of Saturday’s other quarterfinal between No. 3 Martinsburg and No. 6 Wheeling Park.
— Story by Rick Elmore/Charleston Gazette-Mail
