Chargers tether the Falcons in Kickoff Week classic

And we're back….

After a tough loss in the semifinals last year, the Chargers used their loss as motivation to work even harder during the off-season. Knowing what it feels like to come up short of the ultimate goal, this year's Charger squad is driven to dominate and outperform in every possible area. The Hall is led by 10 experienced seniors representing both sides of the ball.

Coach Bogert's team opened 2020 on the road, facing the 2A #6 Millwood Falcons at L.W. Good Stadium.

The offense is led by Robert Mbroh, who has taken the reins at quarterback this year. During his three previous years, the senior has posted an unblemished record as the starting quarterback.

The game started as many had expected – with a very fast and explosive Heritage Hall offense. Mbroh connected on a couple of short passes, but The Hall turned to its run game once in Falcon territory. Jayden Willams powered up the middle on the ground to start the scoring and put his team up 7-0.

The Chargers started the second quarter right where they left off and the defense continued to shut the Falcons out. Mbroh showed why he's one of the State's top dual-threat quarterbacks with a touchdown run to put The Hall up 14-0. The Falcons tried to use their speed on run after run, but came up short. While the Falcon defense proved to be very physical, the Chargers remained unshaken.

Recognized by experts as a dominant force, the Charger defense seized the momentum in the second quarter. Senior linebacker Landon Lahondny picked off a Falcon pass and returned it 20 yards, leading to a Charger touchdown. Davis Duncan, another senior defender, also made a huge interception to halt a Millwood drive.

With 25 seconds left in the first half, Mbroh threw a great 17-yard pass to a wide open Ford Stephenson for another Charger score! Heritage Hall put three touchdowns on the board before halftime. Even with a 20-0 lead at the break, they knew that could not ease up or become complacent with their work.

As the third quarter opened, The Hall's defense forced the Falcons to struggle for points on the scoreboard. The Charger "D" stayed hungry despite their lead. Both teams battled cramps and penalties through much of the second half before the Falcons ended up scoring their only touchdown of the night with 53 seconds left in the game. Heritage Hall closed the game with a 20-6 victory and showed great hope for another historic season.

Despite the usual first game jitters and mistakes, the Hall came out ready to play and showed that on the field. After a summer of uncertainty about their season, they kept motivated, worked hard individually when they couldn't be together, and it has definitely paid off.

The Chargers rushing game was led by Mbroh, who finished with 18 carries for 60 yards and a score. Williams also was a force in the rushing game as well with 9 carries for 48 yards and a great touchdown run. Heritage Hall finished with 139 yards rushing on the night.

In the passing game, Mbroh completed 4 passes out of his 14 throws. Several incompletions were dropped passes rather than errant throws. After coming off of a year not starting at quarterback, the senior leader really stepped up his game. Putting his mental strength and determination on display, Mbroh showed why so many colleges are recruiting him. Gavin Freeman caught two of the four passes for 14 yards, most of those earned on a dazzling run after catch.

Defensively, A.J. Sirls, Jr., and Brigham Evans each posted 12 tackles to lead the Chargers while Gavin Freeman added 9. Junior defensive lineman Gavin Wilson notched 5 tackles including a sack. Lahdony and Davis each had interceptions and the Charger defense posted 9 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

The Hall now prepares for a Week 2 battle against the 4A Clinton Red Tornadoes! The Chargers know that Clinton will run the ball all night – The Hall will need to contain the Tornadoes senior running back, Atrel Bryson, and force stops to keep the defense fresh. The Chargers know the game is normally very physical and emotional; it will take total focus for four quarters in order to achieve success. The Tornadoes are coming off of a close 26-21 win over Woodward. The Chargers are looking to expand on their Week 1 win and begin a new streak.

Onward Chargers!

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