The real fireworks exploded over North Harford High School after the game. But there were plenty of bright plays between the lines in North Harford?s 34-12 homecoming win over Joppatowne.
The Mariners hung in the game with a handful of big plays, but the Hawks? defense came up with some key plays in the second half to turn the tide.
North Harford was able to convert four Mariner turnovers into four scoring drives.
“We were able to capitalize on their mistakes,” Brinkman said. “It was just two teams playing their hearts out and we were able to take it away in the second half.”
In the first Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference game for either team this fall, North Harford (4-0, 1-0) used a 23-0 run to finish off Joppatowne (2-2, 0-1).
Senior tailback Bryan Woolson ran for 120 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.
“It seems like the more carries he gets the more he gets going in the second half,” Brinkman said.
Woolson had 26 yards in the first half. He carried the ball seven times for 94 second-half yards.
Junior quarterback Dan Griffin was 7-of-10 passing for 141 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown.
“He just gets better every day and hopefully he continues to do that for us,” Brinkman said of his second-year starter.
Griffin said he feels more comfortable.
“I?ve got another year?s experience under my belt, and I feel more comfortable,” Grifin said. And I?ve got a lot of my line back, too.”
He also has two senior wide receivers back. Devon Brown caught a pair of second-half touchdowns, and Tyler Maguire caught a first-half touchdown to go along with a pair of interceptions on defense.
“It?s a good way to go out for our last homecoming game,” Maguire said.
Brinkman was asked at the end of the game whether this team can repeat last year?s run to the playoffs.
“Long way to go to say that,” Brinkman said. “We?ll take them one game at a time.”
For now, the Hawks stay atop the UCBAC Chesapeake Division standings, while the Mariners equal their amount of regular season losses from last year.
The future at North Harford, however, looks very bright.
At halftime, it was announced that North Harford High School will get government funding for the first synthetic field in Harford County as part of a stadium renovation project.
