BATTLE CREEK ― Harper Creek and Pennfield both came into this Week 4 rivalry game with similar records and the same high hopes.
Whichever team showed up to take advantage of that nice start to the season would feel a whole lot better about the way the rest of the year was going to go.
The Beavers ended up being that team as Harper Creek came away with a dominant 44-0 win over rival Pennfield in Interstate 8 Conference high school football action at Harper Creek High School on Friday, Sept. 19.
“Crosstown rivals. We knew they were going to come out with some fire,” Harper Creek coach Mason Converse said. “But you know what, our guys get tired of hearing about the dudes they have on their squad. We got some dudes, too, and they showed up tonight. And, I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
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Here are 3 takeaways from the game.
One-Sided Story
Harper Creek has handled Pennfield the last two years, as the Beavers outscored the Panthers 104-26 combined over two games. However, going in, it looked as if the game might be closer this season with both teams at 2-1.
But, Harper Creek just continues to play dominant football and is now 3-1 overall and 2-0 in league play.
“Anytime you can beat a rival like this and beat them so soundly, it’s exciting,” Converse said. “Now, we can have bragging rights for another year.”
Harper Creek jumped ahead quickly. The Beavers first scored on a 59-yard touchdown pass and run from Maddox McCarty to Gavin Chapman in the first quarter. Before the period was over, Cameron Converse added to the score with a 14-yard touchdown run and a 15-0 lead.
Maddox McCarty added a quarterback sneak from a yard out as Harper Creek started to pull away with a 22-0 lead with 2:25 left in the half.
For the game, McCarty was 12-of-14 passing for 168 yards and a score. Dylan Eversole had four catches for 35 yards. Camari Hampton led the Beavers with 80 yards rushing on 10 carries.
Ball Hawk
Harper Creek’s defense pitched a shutout. A big part of that was slowing down the Pennfield passing game, which has worked well early in the season.
The Beavers’ Brock Hibbs had two interceptions in the first half. His first resulted in an interception return for a touchdown from 21 yards out to make it 28-0 late in the second quarter. Hibbs then stopped Pennfield’s final drive of the first half with an interception at midfield with :17 left. Harper Creek was able to turn that into points with a 30-yard field goal by Alex LaFleur as time expired before halftime, making it 31-0 at intermission.
Overall, the Harper Creek defense held Pennfield to 94 total yards.
“They are pretty high-powered offensively, they have scored some points, so we thought the key was putting pressure on their passing game,” Converse said. “We did that, and Brock Hibbs was able to get two interceptions. He now has five interceptions on the season.
“He is such a smart player. He knows with pressure coming, they have to get the ball out quick and he plays everything in front of him and that has resulted in some interceptions. He has waited his turn, and he is a success story that you love as a high school football coach. He almost didn’t come out as a freshman because he thought he was too small. He’s proof, it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”
Gavin Rice had a team-high eight tackles to lead Harper Creek with Hibbs and Sean Johnson adding six stops each.
Alexander Miller and Dre’Shaun Bailey each had seven tackles to lead Pennfield.
What they said …
Harper Creek senior Brock Hibbs: “All of our DBs have been playing well. We have been breaking on balls fast and making big plays. Getting one and taking it back all the way, that’s the dream… It feels amazing. The record at Harper Creek for the most picks in a season is seven and I’m coming for it.”
Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter: @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Ball hawking defense helps Harper Creek football dominate Pennfield in rivalry game
Reporting by Bill Broderick, Battle Creek Enquirer / Battle Creek Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
