WOODWARD — Senior tailback Dustin Harney etched his name into Woodward-Granger lore by bursting three yards into the end zone with four seconds remaining to deliver a 34-30 Homecoming win over South Hamilton.
Emotions were high throughout the game, and overflowed afterward as a delirious student body rushed the field the celebrate with their classmates, who prevailed in a thrilling back-and-forth slugfest that saw five lead changes in the fourth quarter alone.
South Hamilton (2-3, 1-1 in 1A District 2) scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion in each of the first two quarters, with W-G (4-1, 2-0) countering with a second-quarter Carter Moran to Dan Polich TD pass to give the visiting Hawks a 16-6 lead at the intermission.
Moran connected with Polich on a 26-yard scoring dart, with Harney adding a two-point conversion run, for the only points of the third quarter.
The real fun began in the final frame, which the host Hawks entered facing a 16-14 deficit.
A seven-yard Harney run just 28 seconds into the period gave the hosts a 20-16 lead, but the visitors regained the advantage at the 6:32 mark to move back in front, 24-20.
Harney squirted free for a nine-yard TD run and also added the conversion as the lead switched again, this time in favor of the hosts, 28-24, with 3:59 to play.
However, the drama was far from complete. The guests ran nearly three minutes off the clock before scoring to take a 30-28 lead with 1:13 still on the clock.
The final moments will long be remembered by the W-G players, coaches and faithful. The team marched confidently down the grid and found themselves just three yards from paydirt with single-digit seconds remaining.
A field goal would have provided the winning points, but head coach Cory Crnkovich showed his confidence in the offense by calling on Harney, who got free off right tackle and burst into the end zone for a 34-30 lead.
The conversion attempt was turned aside. but the guests could not make magic happen on the ensuing kick off and a mad celebration erupted on the field.
Harney finished with 174 rushing yards on 21 carries, scoring three TDs and a pair of two-point conversions. Moran added 40 yards on eight runs and Dylan McCaulley five yards on two totes.
Moran finished 12-of-19 for 140 yards and two scores and was not intercepted.
Polich caught seven passes for 109 yards and two TDs to lead the receiving corps. Harney grabbed two aerials for 13 yards, Brody Nardini had two catches for 11 yards, and Ethan Moats pulled in one pass for seven yards.
Defensive statistics for W-G and all South Hamilton stats were not available.
W-G returns to action Friday with a trip to Belmond-Klemme. The Broncos are 0-5 this season, including a 38-7 loss at South Hamilton Sept. 17.
