The Heritage Hall Chargers, ranked 3rd in Class 3A, faced the Millwood Falcons, 7th in Class 2A, in the opening game for both teams. The stands were packed on both sides for the first time in about two years with a strong showing from the HH Jungle. Both teams came in after deep playoff runs; Millwood was knocked out in the round of 16 and the Chargers fell in the Semifinals. 

The Falcons won the coin toss and chose to defer to the second half, meaning the Chargers opened up with the ball. Senior receiver Gavin Freeman took the opening kickoff 42 yards, but the Chargers were not able to do anything with the great field position and turned it over on downs. Millwood was also not able to do anything on their first possession of the game and the Falcons had to give it right back to the Chargers.  

This was the theme of the first half as both offenses seemed to be struggling to find their rhythm. The only points scored in the first quarter came on a 32 yard field goal by sophomore kicker Carter Counts. 

The second quarter was also a defensive battle until around the one minute mark when junior running back River Faulkner ran it into the endzone from 15 yards out to give the Chargers a 10-0 lead. 

However, Millwood instantly responded when junior quarterback and running back Rickey Hunt ran the ensuing kickoff back 89 yards to cut the lead back to one possession. The lead stayed at 10-6 after Gavin Freeman blocked the PAT, the third of his career.

With 52 seconds left in the half the Chargers shifted into a 2 minute offense in an effort to respond after the kickoff touchdown. It only took them one play – senior quarterback Will Paque threw a 55 yard touchdown to Freeman to give the Chargers a 10 point lead going into the half. After a slow start, the Chargers began to find their rhythm and hoped to carry momentum into the second half. 

After the Chargers forced the Falcons to punt on the first drive of the second half, the Chargers extended their lead with a 5 play, 59 yard drive, capped off by a 9 yard River Faulkner touchdown run, his second of the game. Heritage Hall clearly had things clicking and Millwood had no answer to the Chargers defense, which still had not allowed an offensive touchdown. 

Nearing the end of the third quarter, Faulkner scored his 3rd touchdown from 41 yards out to give the Chargers a commanding 30-6 lead. Faulkner was not done in the 3rd as he added to his rushing touchdown total with another score just two minutes later from 2 yards out to stretch the lead to 37-6 going into the final period. 

In the fourth, the Chargers began running the ball more and chewing clock. Their first win of the season was in their sights. Senior fullback Brigham Evans extended the Chargers lead early in the fourth quarter when he ran in a touchdown from 2 yards out for a 44-6 lead. 
The Falcons had a couple of scores late, but the writing was already on the wall and the Chargers got their first victory of the season 44-18.

Will Paque finished completed 13 of 19 passes for 206 yards with 1 touchdown and no interceptions. ChargerVision's Seth Wadley Power Promise Player of the Game River Faulkner had a very strong game as had 147 yards and 4 touchdowns on 21 carries. Gavin Freeman forced the only turnover of the game when he picked a pass off in the second quarter. On the offensive side of the ball, the speedy senior had 4 catches for 69 yards and a touchdown. Junior receiver Cooper Cookson also had a very strong game with multiple big yardage receptions to keep scoring drives alive for the Chargers. 

The Chargers are looking to carry this momentum into Week 2 when they host 4A #1 Clinton on Friday, September 10th at 7:00 PM. If you are unable to be in the stands to cheer The Hall onward, be sure to tune into ChargerVision to watch the Chargers take on the Red Tornadoes. The last few meetings of these powerhouse programs have produced some epic games...don't miss it!

Written by Caleb Kalcich '22
Photos by Sarah Phipps / The Oklahoman