Trick Plays Spark White Oak Past Rival Spring Hill, 22-21
LONGVIEW — The White Oak Roughnecks employed trickery to defeat Spring Hill, 22-21, Friday night in the annual "Battle of Hawkins Creek."
Following an 89-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Gale to Gabe Michael with 1:20 remaining, White Oak faked the PAT and Hunter Owens found Jansen McCurdy for the game-winning, two-point conversion.
Darion Barr led White Oak (2-1) with 113 yards rushing yards on seven attempts.
Spring Hill quarterback Ben Hollas led the Panthers (1-2) with 91 yards on 27 attempts. Trenton Craig added 64 yards on seven carries.
White Oak took a 7-0 lead on a 3-yard run Barr, which was the first play after an hour weather delay. The score was set up by Barr's 74-yard run.
Craig answered with a 44-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 7-7.
The Roughnecks reached into their bag of tricks to go up 14-7 in the third quarter. Gale took the snap, lateraled it to Michael who hit McCurdy for a 64-yard touchdown pass.
Hollas' 8-yard touchdown evened the game and his 1-yard sneak gave Spring Hill a 21-14 lead late in the third quarter.
The game looked to be in Spring Hill's control when Jake Ferrill intercepted Gale with 4:24 remaining, but the offense couldn't take advantage, punting it back White Oak.
White Oak travels to Ore City next week, while Spring Hill plays host to Bullard Brook Hill.