The exhaustion showed on Bryan Woolson?s unshaven face Monday afternoon. His North Harford High football teammates had just endured a busy weekend, which featured the team?s third postponed game.
Friday?s heavy rains altered the team?s schedule, and a warmer-than-normal game-time temperature Monday made for a difficult uphill climb in a 28-14 win over Harford County rival C. Milton Wright.
The Mustangs jumped out to an early 7-0 advantage, but the Hawks (5-0) came back behind a powerful running attack and a timely passing game. On top of that, the defense created three interceptions.
“I?ll take it ? any way,” North Harford coach Ken Brinkman said.
North Harford took a halftime advantage of 14-7 and expanded, despite a bevy of tired players.
“It was hot. I was worried. And they had two backs that scared the daylights out of me,” Brinkman said of the Mustangs? Jeremy Rice and Sterlin Mickey.
Woolson paced the North Harford ground attack, grinding out 148 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. But he, like many of his teammates, wore down in the humid, daytime conditions. Woolson fumbled twice amidst a flurry of turnovers, which led to four possession-changes in three minutes.
“They picked me back up and we pulled through it,” Woolson said of his teammates.
Fellow senior Tyler Maguire was one of the teammates who bailed Woolson out. The defensive back hauled in a pair of interceptions, and fellow senior Devon Brown had one.
“Tyler has grown leaps and bounds,” Brinkman said. “And I think right now, he?s probably one of the best defensive backs in the county.”
As a wide receiver, Maguire also caught a 63-yard touchdown pass with 1:33 remaining in the first half, giving the Hawks a 14-7 lead that they did not relinquish.
“We?re clicking. We?re clicking well,” Maguire said of the passing game. “We?re more of a run team, but we?re starting to get the ball in the air more.”
Rising Sun (Cecil County) lies ahead on Friday, leaving the Hawks with just three full days to prepare.
“It?s going to be tough,” Woolson said. “It?s going to be a tough challenge for us. It?s going to let us know if we really have what it takes to get to the playoffs.”
