Late stop sends Wolves to state title game

Lake Hamilton defensive tackle Bradley Rieman, center left, guards running back Owen Miller, center, from Sylvan Hills defensive end Jayden Rogers, far left, Friday night at Sylvan Hills Field in Sherwood. - Photo by Justin Cunningham of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Lake Hamilton defensive tackle Bradley Rieman, center left, guards running back Owen Miller, center, from Sylvan Hills defensive end Jayden Rogers, far left, Friday night at Sylvan Hills Field in Sherwood. - Photo by Justin Cunningham of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

SHERWOOD — In a game where big plays were at a premium for three quarters, Lake Hamilton got the one it needed in overtime to slip past Sylvan Hills and punch its ticket to the Class 6A state title game.

The Wolves’ defense stopped Bears’ senior running back Tavion Cunningham on a potential game-winning, 2-point conversion attempt to carry Lake Hamilton to a dramatic 21-20 victory Friday night at Bill Blackwood Field.

Junior running back Tevin Woodley carried 24 times for 103 yards with 2 touchdowns for Lake Hamilton (11-1), which will play for the state title next week for the first time since 2011. The Wolves will take on fellow 6A-West foe, Greenwood, Saturday night at 6:40 p.m. at Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium.

“This is huge, so, so huge,” said a relieved Lake Hamilton coach Tommy Gilleran. “We had so much trouble in the first half trying to figure (Sylvan Hills) out. They were trying to figure us out, too. But I thought we finally were able to understand what they were trying to do in the second half.

“The defenses played extremely well for both sides, but I thought we just made the plays when we had to. I think some might have thought we had it locked up late, but Sylvan Hills never quit. They never quit.”

That never-say-die mentality helped Sylvan Hills (9-4) put together a stirring rally to eventually tie the game.

Lake Hamilton held a 14-0 lead with 5:49 left in the fourth quarter until a 29-yard touchdown run by senior running back S.J. Esteen cut the Bears’ deficit in half with 4:32 to go. A quick three-and-out gave Sylvan Hills the ball back, and Cunningham finished off an 8-play, 49-yard drive with an 11-yard scoring run around the left side with 33 seconds remaining to knot it at 14-14.

Lake Hamilton, however, managed to get in position for a game-winning field goal on its final drive in regulation. After a 45-yard kickoff return from senior specialist Layne Warrick put the Wolves at the Sylvan Hills’ 49, Lake Hamilton needed only two plays — the big one coming on a 28-yard run from junior running back Owen Miller — to move to the Bears’ 15. But senior kick Alex Hurtz had his 32-yard field goal blocked, sending the game into overtime.

Woodley put the Wolves ahead 21-14 with a 5-yard score on Lake Hamilton’s opening possession, and Sylvan Hills countered on a 2-yard run for Esteen. But Sylvan Hills coach Chris Hill made the decision to go for the win instead of a game-tying field goal.

“Our defense had been playing hard all night but were a little worn down,” he said. “I wasn’t sure if we’d be able to stop (Lake Hamilton), so I wanted to try and end it there. But you’ve got to give Lake Hamilton credit.

“They made a big play. But I can’t say enough about our guys. A lot of people would’ve packed it in down 14 with less than five minutes left. But my guys didn’t. … they showed tremendous character by continuing to fight all the way through.”

Miller added 73 yards rushing on 21 carries.

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