Huge Hockinson rally makes history in playoff win over Black Hills

BATTLE GROUND — It was not enough just to make it to state for the first time in program history. The Hockinson Hawks had to make a memory of a lifetime, too.

The Hawks rallied from a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to shock Black Hills 24-21 in a Class 2A District 4 high school football playoff game Friday night at District Stadium.

Quentin Bodenhamer’s 23-yard field goal with 1:52 left in the game proved to be the game winner after the Hawks scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns to tie the contest.

“We came into this game knowing we were going to make history,” said Austen Johnson, who scored the tying touchdown with five minutes to play. “We want future Hawks to play at our level.”

Not sure too many future Hawks will be able to top this type of a finish.

“No doubt about it. It’s our greatest game, our greatest game,” said Hockinson coach Rick Steele, who has been the head coach of the Hawks for all but one season.

So yes, the Hawks are going to the state playoffs for the first time.

And they will remember how they did it forever.

Joe Davis scored on touchdown runs of 1 and 2 yards — after two disastrous plays by Black Hills.

Of course, one team’s disaster is another team’s dream.

“I’ll take it,” Steele said.

Austen Johnson then tied the game with a 3-yard touchdown run after Kedrick Johnson’s one-handed 30-yard reception from quarterback Mitch Lines set up the Hawks in the red zone.

Black Hills went three-and-out before another disaster/dream scenario took place. The punter went down to his knee to catch a low snap. He was down as soon as he possessed the ball, and Hockinson set up on Black Hills’ 14-yard line.

A few plays later, Bodenhamer was true with the game-winner.

“I’m so proud to be part of this team,” Bodenhamer said. “I love this team so much, and I wanted to keep going.”

The Hawks improved to 10-0, and more importantly to them, they are still going, among the final 16 teams to make the state bracket.

Bodenhamer said he was more nervous on the sideline than the actual kicking. He was also perfect on all three extra points, critical in tying the game. On the field, he said, there were no nerves.

“I just knew I had to get it in,” he said of his final field goal.

He knew it was good right away.

“I was ready to turn around and celebrate,” he said.

Teams cannot rally from three-touchdown deficits without defense first. Kedrick Johnson had the big catch on offense, but he also had several tackles-for-loss. Austen Johnson had two interceptions. Jacob Pearrow had the interception on Black Hills’ final offensive play of the game.

Black Hills went four possessions in a row without a first down after taking a 21-0 lead. The Wolves did pick up a first down on the final drive, but the Hawks pass defense was up for the challenge in the end.

“Everybody kept going, every single play,” Kedrick Johnson said. “No one stopped, even when we were down.”

“We knew if we made just one good play, we’d be motivated enough to win the game,” Austen Johnson added. “And we did.”

Austen Johnson had an interception and return to set up Davis’ first touchdown, making it 21-7.

“After that, you could really feel the momentum shift,” Steele said.

Black Hills went three-and-out on its next possession but the punter fumbled the snap and was tackled at the 2-yard line. Davis scored on the next play to make it 21-14 with 8 minutes left in the game.

Another three-and-out, and this time a punt, gave the ball back to Hockinson. The Hawks needed five plays to go 53 yards, which included the big grab by Kedrick Johnson. Austen Johnson cashed in from there to tie the game.

That set up another defensive gem by the Hawks, and then the bizarre play with the Black Hills punter taking an inadvertent knee.

All that made for one historic finish for Hockinson.

“At half, coach told us, ‘Hey, we’re still in this.'”

At the time, it was 14-0 Black Hills on two TD passes from Jaydon Troy to Mark Melendres.

Just before the end of the third quarter, Jordan March gave the Wolves a 21-0 lead on a 98-yard run. At that point, did the Hawks still believe?

Yes.

“Our kids got heart. They got will. They got desire,” Steele said. “Just keep playing. Keep playing. Make something happen.”

The Hockinson Hawks made it happen, all the way to state, and with a comeback for the ages.

HOCKINSON 24, BLACK HILLS 21

B. Hills 0 14 7 0–21

Hockinson 0 0 0 24–24

Second quarter

BH — Mark Melendres 41 pass from Jaydon Troy (Drew Kimmel kick)

BH — Melendres 33 pass from Troy (Kimmel kick)

Third quarter

BH — March 98 run (Kimmel kick)

Fourth quarter

H — Joe Davis 1 run

H — Davis 2 run

H — Austen Johnson 3 run

H — Quentin Bodenhamer 23 FG

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Black Hills: Cooper Nygren 19-54, Troy 4-8, Jordan March 2-100, Cameron Berndson 8-18, Kyler Nygren 1-(minus 4). Team 2-(minus 25). Hockinson: Tommy Harshaw 14-91, Austen Johnson 14-37, Steven Carlisle 1-9, Devan Riggs 1-(minus 4), Mitch Lines 5-(minus 5), Davis 10-29.

PASSING — Black Hills: Troy 7-15-3-117. Hockinson: Lines 6-13-1-84.

RECEIVING — Black Hills: Melendres 3-70, Gabe Adamson 2-39, C. Nygren 1-(minus 2), Jewell Day 1-10. Hockinson: Cameron Loos 1-33, A. Johnson 2-11, Kedrick Johnson 2-36, Harshaw 1-4.