by Joey Crandall
The Hug football team picked up a 20-14 win over Douglas in Minden Friday to improve to 4-0 on the season.
Douglas dropped to 1-3 heading into next week’s matchup at defending regional champion Reed.
Nick Abreu returned a kick 87 yards for a touchdown just before the end of the third quarter to cut Hug’s lead to 20-14. The Tigers, though, didn’t manage to cross the 50-yard line through the remainder of the game as Hug held on for the win.
Hug scored on the game’s opening possession as Roosevelt Calhoun punched in a two-yard touchdown run.
Douglas drove inside the red zone on three of its first four possessions, inside the 30-yard line on the other and started at the Hug 17 yard-line on its fifth possession, but the Tigers couldn’t capitalize in any of those instances.
Hug’s Dekembe Montgomery later raced 57 yards for a touchdown and the 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
Douglas’ Kaleb Foster scooped up a fumble at the 50-yard line just before halftime and raced to the Hawk 17 but the Tigers once again stalled and the ensuing field goal attempt fell short.
Sam Melhus opened the second half by scrambling 66 yards for a touchdown that cut Hug’s lead to 14-7.
With 18 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Hug’s Treci Blanton scored from a yard out on fourth-and-1. Douglas blocked the extra point attempt, setting the score at 20-7. Abreu returned the ensuing kickoff attempt for the score but the Tigers would get no closer.
Elsewhere in the Northern Division I Friday night, Reno defeated Damonte Ranch 47-0, North Valleys beat Galena 37-14, Reed beat Oak Ridge, Calif., 26-14, McQueen beat Manogue 20-12 and Spanish Springs beat Carson 28-27.
For further Northern Division I coverage, click here.
possessions seven times in the first quarter.
Reno kicked a 42-yard field goal on to take a 3-0 lead two and half minutes into the second quarter. Douglas had earlier stalled that drive at the Reno 49, but a roughing the passer penalty on a third-and-12 gave Reno a new set of downs.
The field goal came six plays later.
The teams then traded punts
over the next three drives before Reno scored on a two-yard plunge with 52 seconds remaining before halftime.
Douglas was penalized four times for procedure, substitution or false start violations in the first half.
Reno picked off a Douglas pass on the first drive of the second half and the Huskies’ Cole Eddy later scored on a 19-yard run for the 17-0 lead.
Douglas answered with its best drive of the night, driving to the Reno 3-yard line on nine plays. An illegal procedure penalty, though, set Douglas back on the 8 and then the drive stalled on a pair of carried for losses.
The ensuing 36-yard field goal attempt fell short and wide, giving Reno the ball back.
The Huskies tacked on two more touchdowns, missing one of the extra points, to seal the win.
The Tigers had another promising drive in the fourth quarter stall after reaching the Reno 16-yard line. A personal foul moved the ball back 15 yards and the drive was harpooned three plays later when Reno picked off a pass and returned it to the Douglas 27.
Cody Ball intercepted a Reno pass with less than five minutes left in the game.
Reno improved to 1-1 overall on the year while Douglas dropped to 1-2. Douglas next hosts upstart Hug Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.
Also Friday night, Damonte Ranch defeated Spanish Springs 40-6; Carson beat North Valleys 35-21; Hug beat Manogue 20-6 and Reed defeated Galena 49-0.
Photo courtesy of Ron Harpin/www.rahphotosnv.com
Josh Jensen (55) makes a tackle against Hug last week.
WEEK 4 REWIND
WEEK 3 RECAP
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