Hagerstown Head Coach Scott Snodgrass talks to his team during a timeout during the Tigers 33-14 win over Tri High on Friday, Oct. 27.
HAGERSTOWN, Ind. – Friday’s steady rain didn’t matter to the Hagerstown football team as the Tigers posted a 33-14 victory over Tri High to advance to the championship of Sectional 46 in Class 1A.
“We’re excited,” Hagerstown Head Coach Scott Snodgrass said. “Kids played well. Real weird conditions tonight, muddy and slick. I feel like Tri played hard, played hard the whole game.”
“It was a good battle for our kids,” Snodgrass continued. “Some of our young kids got some time tonight and I think that was good for them. We’ve got a lot of work to do before next week.”
Next Friday, the No. 11 Tigers (10-1) travel to No. 3 Indianapolis Lutheran (9-2) as the two teams meet for the second year in a row in the title contest. The Saints beat South Decatur 55-12 on Friday night to reach the finale. The Saints defeated Hagerstown 48-27 last fall to win the sectional crown.
On Friday, Hagerstown fumbled on its first play from scrimmage, but the Tigers eventually responded.
“We just talked to our O-line and we talked to our running backs,” Snodgrass said. “We said guys, we’re going to have a hard time throwing the ball around tonight because the ball getting muddy and wet. We’ll throw it if we have to, but let’s just try to pound it out.”
A long touchdown run by Mason Hicks with four seconds remaining in the opening period, gave the Tri-Eastern Conference champion Tigers the edge they needed to win their 10th straight contest.
“Once we got a lead, I think we were pretty comfortable keeping the ball on the ground,” Snodgrass said. “Our offensive line did a fantastic job and our defense played great.”
“The key tonight was trying to deal with some adversity that was thrown our way,” he added. “The rain isn’t bad, but it’s the mud that is the problem.”
Owen Golliher scored on a pair of 4-yard runs in the second period to put the Tigers in front 19-0 by the intermission.
“Hagerstown is a good team,” Tri High Head Coach Andrew Totheroh said. “I wish them the best of luck next week.”
“This was a tough game,” Totheroh added. “The elements weren’t in anybody’s favor.”
In the third quarter, Hicks added another long dash to the end zone and Jalen Oliver scored on a punt return as the Tigers built a 33-0 advantage.
The Titans (5-6) picked up a pair of scores in the final stanza on a 1-yard plunge by Alex Melton and 4-yard run by Nick Wilson with Justin Greene adding the two-point conversion.
“I’m extremely proud of the seniors,” Totheroh said. “The kids didn’t quit all year. They kept fighting. You could see that tonight. I’m going to miss these seniors.”
Hicks finished with 274 yards rushing, while Golliher added 101 yards on the ground. Golliher managed to complete all three of his passes to Cody Swimm, Cameron Purtha and Branton Payne for 33 yards.
Wilson led the Titans with 54 yards rushing, while he completed a 37-yard pass to Gage Rowe.
Drew Mondrush also grabbed a 37-yard catch from Melton. Kyler Burchett finished with three receptions for 12 yards. Greene, an offensive lineman, had a catch for three yards as he grabbed a tipped pass.