Stephen Decatur scores late TD to win second-straight state title
December 7, 2024
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Stephen Decatur scored a touchdown with just under two minutes to play and held on to defeat Huntingtown, 13-12, in the 2A State Championship Game on early Saturday evening at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
Seahawks quarterback Johnny Hobgood connected with a wide-open Zakhari Baker in the end zone for the 24-yard game-winning score. But the touchdown came only after Huntingtown had just taken the lead a few minutes earlier.
The action started more slowly in the first half, as midway through opening quarter, the Seahawks got on the board first with a two-yard rush by Nathan Tapley who jumped over the pile to score. Both teams battled penalties and turnovers for the rest of the half, despite moving the ball well. Huntingtown and Decatur both had fumbles, and one resulted in a long field goal miss by Decatur. The Seahawks led 7-0 at intermission.
Huntingtown came out to start the second half strong, and took over seven minutes off the clock on their first drive. Running back Landon Cawley capped the drive with a 2-yard plunge into the end zone to bring the Hurricanes within a point, but the extra point was blocked, and Decatur held a 7-6 advantage.
Both teams were unable to produce much for the rest of the third quarter and also as play transitioned to the fourth. Huntingtown turned the ball over on downs and punted away, while Decatur threw and interception, caught by the Hurricanes’ Gabe Copeland, and also were forced to punt.
On its penultimate possession of the game, it looked as though Huntingtown was going to punt the ball away, but Copeland faked the punt and took off for a first down. Shortly after, Canes quarterback Dominic Hickman broke free down the sidelines and ran 57 yards for the Hurricanes touchdown. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful, however, and the Hurricanes led 12-7 with three minutes to play.
Very quickly Decatur moved the ball on its final possession, hitting a big pass play from Hobgood to Trybe Wise to get into Hurricanes territory. A few plays later, Hobgood found Baker for the game-winning score.
Cawley finished with 127 yards on 28 carries for the Hurricanes, to go along with 108 rushing yards by Hickman. The Seahawks offense was led by Hobgood, who completed 17 of 21 passes for 233 yards.
Stephen Decatur wins its second-consecutive state championship, which is also its second title in school history.
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