Chargers survive Mud Bowl against Millwood

As Andy Bass threw the ball up as high and as far as he could, the clock finally bled out and the Chargers celebrated a 1-0 start to the 2022 season.

On Thursday, September 1st, the Chargers took on a longtime rival in the 2A #10 Millwood Falcons. However, this was no ordinary road game. It had rained all day and the field had multiple small "ponds" all around. It was set to be a mud bowl and the Chargers took the field wearing all white uniforms.

After the offense went 3-and-out on their first drive, the Charger defense got off to a hot start. Senior linebacker Zach Fetrow recovered a Millwood fumble on their first play from scrimmage.

After the turnover, the Chargers marched down the field. Sophomore running back Barrett Travis got stuffed on a run up the middle, but bounced it outside and splashed through a pond to score the first touchdown of the game.

The Charger defense followed that up with a score of their own when Rashaud Smith knocked the ball out of the quarterback's hands near the goal line and junior defensive end Zavier Freeman slid into six more points on the fumble recovery and a 14-0 lead.

On the next Charger drive, Millwood sophomore safety Jaden Nickens picked off Andy Bass when a receiver slipped in the mud on his route. Nickens raced down the field in what looked like a pick-six, but Bass turned on the jets and caught Nickens before he could find the end zone. On the next play, star senior running back Rickey Hunt, Jr., showed why he is a D1 recruit, breaking four or five tackles before bursting into the end zone. After a failed two-point conversion pass, the Chargers held a 14-6 lead.

The Falcons defense had no answer for a surging Charger offense that made its way back to the red zone. On third and goal from the 11 yard line, Bass rolled out to his left and threw back to the end zone where Rashaud Smith dove to make the grab for a 21-6 Charger lead.

Shortly before halftime, the Falcons came back within an unrecognized quarterback bootleg for a long touchdown. The Falcons tacked on a two-point conversion on a Hunt run.

Then, with less than 30 seconds in the half and the Falcons knocking at the door, the Charger defense made a crucial stop on the next drive to keep the score at 21-14.

Coming out of the half the Chargers wasted no time in getting a stop and another score to go up by two scores once again. With strong runs by Bass and Bladen Vogel to get into the red zone, the Chargers capitalized when Jaxon Carter dashed into the end zone.

The Falcons then scored twice, once late in the third and once early in the fourth quarter, bringing the score to a tie at 28. The teams traded possessions as time ticked away on a tie ball game.

The Chargers took possession with 6 minutes left in the game and a chance to take the lead. Andy Bass led the way, completing multiple passes and using his legs to pick up first downs. Once in the red zone, Barrett Travis followed his well-conditioned offensive line into the end zone. The Hall went up 35-28 and the game was left in the hands of the willing defense.

The Falcons started on their own 35 yard line and marched their way across midfield to the Charger 40. However, the stingy Chargers defense stopped the Falcons on 3 consecutive plays to bring up a 4th down and 10. Millwood's freshman Quarterback Schuylar Turnbill rolled out to his right and threw a bullet to his receiver down the sideline. Sprinting in was freshman Chargers cornerback Jerrod Williams to break up the pass and force a turnover on downs with 2:30 to go in the game.

After a first down, the Chargers were able to bleed the clock out and win the game. It was a muddy, gritty victory for The Hall, who played the game without starting tailback River Faulkner and head coach Brett Bogert '05. The Chargers were glad as usual, to secure a win; no matter how close.

Bass piloted the air raid, completing 11 of 24 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown. He also led the rushing attack, compiling 114 yards on 21 carries. Barrett Travis carried 15 times for 58 yards and two scores. Bass targeted Rashaud Smith 5 times for 53 yards and a touchdown, while Orie Walker led the team in yardage with 119 on 4 catches.

Defensively, it was no surprise that senior linebacker Cooper Cookson led the way with 13 tackles, including two for losses, while Liam Burton tallied 8 tackles. Junior defensive lineman Zavier Freeman registered 6 tackles, including a sack, and a fumble recovery in the end zone. Juniors Rashaud Smith, Jack Harris, and Edward Johnston each sacked Millwood's quarterback once. Fetrow also recovered a fumble, while freshman Kline Reuter blocked a punt.

Next week doesn't get any easier for Heritage Hall as the Chargers face off against 4A #6 Clinton. The Chargers have beaten the Red Tornadoes in the last eight meetings, including some amazing comeback victories, and are looking to extend that to a 9 game winning streak. Clinton beat 3A Kingfisher 21-6 in Week Zero, and suffered a 46-14 defeat at 5A #4 Bishop McGuinness last week. Tune in to ChargerVision at 6:40pm for pregame and watch every second of what is sure to be another epic battle between Heritage Hall and Clinton on Friday.

Written by Zach Fetrow '23
Photos by Dawn Freeman

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