Chargers dominate Douglass in Week 7 showdown

After coming off a COVID-created "bye week," The Hall was anxious to get on the field again to tangle the Trojans. The Hall came into the District game with Douglass determined to elevate their high level of play, as always. The Chargers needed to stay hungry on both sides of the ball and control the passing game. With two key players sitting out this week, the Chargers needed to remain focused.

Heritage Hall quickly dominated the game on both sides of the ball.

After Bryce Carlin tackled the Trojans' punter following a missed punt drop, junior Will Paque connected on a 15-yard pass to Gavin Freeman to post The Hall's first touchdown of the night.

Shortly afterward, on 4th and 10 for the Trojans deep within their own territory, senior Ford Stephenson recovered a high snap that sailed over the quarterback's head to add another touchdown and put his team up 14-0.

After another three-and-out defensive stop, Paque and Freeman connected on another passing touchdown from 17 yards away that culminated with an airborne collision at the goal line. Freeman held onto the ball and landed in the end zone to put the Chargers up 21-0 midway through the first quarter.

Joe Washington caught a short pass from Paque over the middle and dodged defenders before dashing 24 yards to put The Hall up 28-0.

The Trojans struggled to get any momentum. The first quarter went by fast due to the Chargers' explosive offense and defensive dominance.

The second quarter was no different; the Chargers continued to show great energy and effort. The Trojan defense started to amp up and get a few stops, but the Charger defense kept the Douglass offense in check. Sophomore tailback River Faulkner cut back against the grain and powered into the end zone to give Heritage another touchdown. The Chargers scored 35 unanswered points before going into halftime.

Coming out of the locker room, the home squad knew they needed to remain focused and finish even stronger than they started. Freeman returned the opening kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown and Luke Butler added the extra point for a 42-0 lead.

The Hall remained strong on defense and kept the Trojans off the scoreboard board during the third quarter. The Trojans tried to open up the passing game, but sophomore Orie Walker made a sensational interception, skying to tip the ball and then turning and diving to grab it before the ball hit the ground.

The Charger offense continued to milk the clock, and Payton Earnest cashed in a 1-yard run to cap off a long drive and put the home team up 49-0 going into the final quarter of the game.

As younger and more inexperienced Chargers entered the action during the fourth quarter, the Trojans got a wave of energy. The Trojans got their first score of the night on a 1 yard run, and followed that up shortly after with a 47 yard pass for another touchdown.

The Hall closed out the contest, scoring a 49-12 win over and outmatched Douglass squad. The win showed that the Chargers can all come together and play as one team. As for the younger players, they also received some major minutes. The legacy being left by the seniors was evident, and the future of Charger football is very bright.

The passing game was dominant for the Chargers. Paque really stepped up for his team this week and completed 7 of 13 passes for 104 yards and three scores. On the receiving side of the ball, Freeman led with 54 yards, Washington came next with 24, Earnest tallied 15, and senior Ford Stephenson notched 11 yards.

In the rushing game, the Chargers were led by Faulkner, who carried 5 times for 38 yards and a score. The Charger offense played a clean game with zero interceptions or fumbles.

Meanwhile, the Heritage Hall defense registered 4 takeaways – Walker's interception, plus three fumble recoveries. Brigham Evans led the way with 8 tackles including 2 solo and 2 for losses, and A.J. Sirls was right behind with 6 tackles including one for loss. Omari Smith had a great game too, registering 5 tackles from his nose guard position.

The Hall is looking forward to Week 8 with a major marquee matchup that carries huge implications for the District Championship. The #3-ranked Chargers are excited to face the #7-ranked Anadarko Warriors on Saturday at 7 p.m. on Pop Murray Memorial Field.

This week is the Homecoming so make sure you get a ticket, mask-up, and show up to support your Chargers!!

Written by Quincy LeNorman '21
Photos by Dawn Freeman

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