JEWELL — Resilient Woodward-Granger rallied from a 13-0 halftime deficit to force overtime and defeat South Hamilton, 20-13, in a non-district scrap Friday.
W-G (3-3 overall) found little offensive rhythm in the first half, with South Hamilton (0-5) scoring on a 10-yard run in the first quarter and a 12-yard run in the second frame as part of a 185-yard rushing attack.
Tanner Vermaas put the visiting Hawks on the board in the third quarter with a three-yard dive that trimmed the deficit to 13-6.
The host Hawks were the team that could not find any offensive footing in the second half, with Brendan Bird finding Johnnie Morgan for an 18-yard touchdown strike in the fourth quarter as W-G pulled to within a point. Cole Moran’s clutch PAT kick tied the score, eventually setting the stage for overtime.
W-G was the first to have possession in the OT, with Vermaas darting to paydirt on a three-yard run and Moran booting the PAT for a 20-13 lead.
The W-G defense then rose to the occasion, turning back the hosts on four downs to preserve the victory.
Bird finished 8-of-16 for 106 yards and a TD through the air, with Morgan catching four passes for 65 yards and a TD while Logan Canova snared two passes for 24 yards.
Vermaas finished with 67 hard-earned yards and two TDs on 27 carries, with Race Brant running four times for 20 yards.
Brant and Josh Saak each had an interception for the W-G defense, as South Hamilton finished 0-for-5 through the air. Austin Scharlau and Vermaas led the way with 10 tackles apiece.
W-G returns to Class 1A District 8 play Friday with a trip to Leon to face Central Decatur. The Cardinals defeated Southwest Valley, 28-12, Friday, one week after the Timberwolves had fallen by a 26-12 margin to the Hawks.
