​Hayfield left a golden opportunity on the field last Friday against South County in a bid to move to 4-0. The Hawks and Stallions have only met 11 times, but seven of the contests have now been decided by seven or fewer points. Unfortunately, Hayfield has been on the losing end of that equation more often than not. After last year’s 96 point barn burner, the game started much the same with 13 points being scored in the first 2:24. After an excellent kickoff return by South County to set the Stallions up on the Hawks 42 yard line, it took six plays to score on a 23 yard pass. Junior Rayjuon Pringle promptly returned the favor on a 94 yard kickoff return for a touchdown to give the Hawks a 7-6 lead.

After an untimely defensive off-sides penalty on 4th down that extended South County’s drive, the Hayfield defense held within the Hawks 15 yard line. Halfway through the 1st quarter the Hawks offense lead by Brian Cobbs (SR) at quarterback finally took the field, but failed to gain a 1st down. South County’s next drive ended at the Hayfield 30 yard line after a failed fake punt. Hayfield’s next drive ended on a dropped pass that would have been a 15 yard gain. South County’s high risk high reward offense ripped Hayfield’s secondary for a 55 yard pass to take a 12-7 lead with 0:51 remaining in the 1st quarter.

Hayfield’s next three drives would end in South County territory, including three straight plays within South County’s five yard line. Hayfield’s inability to capitalize on sustained drives would be an unfortunate theme throughout the night. With 2:23 remaining, Hayfield was primed to get the ball back before the half with excellent field position since South County was running plays deep in their own end zone after the previous failed Hawks drive. 2nd and 10 at their own three yard line, South County took advantage of man coverage on the outside for a 97 yard dagger to extend the lead 18-7 before the half.

Although down by 11 points at half, Hayfield showed grit and determination to overcome earlier mistakes and claw their way back into the game to put themselves in a position to win. A switch at halftime moved Cobbs (SR) back to wide receiver and brought in Monty Byers (JR) at quarterback. Hayfield took the opening possession of the second half 80 yards on seven plays with a one yard run by Kylan Booker (SR), to close the gap 14-18. Senior Iliass Majid would recover a South County fumble on their next possession to give the Hawks another drive within Stallion territory. A scrambling Byers (JR) misread the improvised route that a wide open Tim Wiggins (JR) was running and was intercepted. After a defensive stop, Byers (JR) got another opportunity and found Cobbs (SR) on a 10 yard slant to take a 21-18 lead with 3:13 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

South County would respond with a six yard touchdown to retake the lead 24-21 with 10:50 in the 4th quarter. On the next Hawks drive, Byers (JR) would be tackled at the ankles from behind and left the game with an apparent injury. With Cobbs (SR) at wide receiver, this precipitated Sophomore Trevor Gleason to come cold off of the bench. Gleason (SO) completed his first three passes but the drive stalled. This would allow the Stallions to mount an exhausting 76 yard 14 play drive to score again, 31-21 with 4:03 remaining. Two of Hayfield’s top defensive players were inactive for the game which greatly impacted the team’s strength and depth.

Gleason (SO) would march Hayfield down the field capped off by an incredible 16 yard touchdown run by Jevon Pailin (SR) to give the Hawks a chance, down 28-31 with 1:47 remaining. Hayfield’s gamble to kick the ball instead of trying an onside kick turned out in their favor, after South County failed on a 4th and 1 that would have ended the game. With 39 seconds remaining, Gleason’s (SO) first opportunity at a game winning drive would come up short, but the never give up attitude that the Hawks displayed after being down by 11 at half, provides great optimism moving forward.

Next up: @ Robinson (2-2) | Thursday, September 28 | 7:00 pm

More photos by Juan Navas.
Photos by Dr. Kinder.

1. Woodbridge (120) 30.00
2. Westfield (118) 29.50
3. Freedom (PW) (116) 29.00
4. Mount Vernon (142) 28.40
5. Madison (140) 28.00
6. Centreville (139) 27.80
7. South Lakes (138) 27.60
8. Patriot (109) 27.25
9. Yorktown (105) 26.25
T10. Battlefield (130) 26.00
T10. Hayfield (104) 26.00
T10. Marshall (104) 26.00
13. C.D. Hylton (103) 25.75
14. West Springfield (100) 25.00
15. West Potomac (98) 24.50
16. Fairfax (119) 23.80
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South County (94) 23.50
T.C. Williams (117) 23.40
Annandale (93) 23.25
Robinson (90) 22.50
Forest Park (110) 22.00
Herndon (86) 21.50
Lake Braddock (85) 21.25
W.T. Woodson (105) 21.00
JEB Stuart (83) 20.75
Oakton (79) 19.75
Stonewall Jackson (M) (98) 19.60
Osbourn (97) 19.40
Osbourn Park (97) 19.40
Charles Colgan (94) 18.80
Washington-Lee (70) 17.50
Chantilly (84) 16.80
Langley (83) 16.60
McLean (66) 16.50
Gar-Field (64) 16.00

For more information on how power points are calculated and used for determining playoffs, click here.

Between the slow start, fumbles, mental mistakes including two ineligible downfield penalties that cost the Hawks passes of 40 yards and a 63 yard touchdown, or the 14 points allowed in the last 1:13 of the game, Hayfield’s 30-24 victory over Fairfax was anything but pretty. Maybe it was the 14 days since Hayfield’s last game. Maybe it was Fairfax digging down deep for their homecoming crowd. Whatever the reason, when another school chooses your game to trot out their pageantry and festivities, athletes have to find that inner motivation to play the villain.

While the box score indicated a much closer game, the result was never really in question. Fairfax attempted a trick play on their first snap with a flea flicker, which was promptly intercepted by Senior Demonte Richardson. After a three-and-out by Hayfield, the Rebels of Fairfax fumbled on their second possession, recovered by Junior linebacker Tyler Brown. It took another stalled drive by each team before Hayfield was able to mount an eight play 71 yard drive capped off by a six yard Monty Byers (JR) run to take the 6-0 lead with 3:41 in the 1st quarter. Hayfield was deficient in attempting two-point conversions all night, going 0-5.

The Hawk’s next possession would end on a botched handoff that set the Rebels up with prime field position. Hayfield’s defense withstood three consecutive Fairfax plays within the red zone but didn’t break, only allowing a 24 yard field goal, their only points of the half. Hayfield responded with a heavy dose of run plays switching between Brian Cobbs (SR) and Josh Nsiah (JR), who found the end zone on a two yard run to take the 12-3 lead.

Fairfax was forced to punt on their next possession after Hayfield’s defense held them to negative yardage on three plays. The momentum was clearly on the Hawk’s side and would almost assuredly drive the ball for another score when the reliable Cobbs (SR) had his pocket picked, for the second fumble of the game. However, the defense wasn’t about to lose their momentum and got the ball back on an interception by Senior Sidkky Idris.

​Up only 12-3 with 5:39 remaining in the 2nd quarter, Cobbs (SR) set out to redeem himself by bouncing and juking off defenders down the sideline on a 49 yard pass reception from M. Byers (JR). Cobbs (SR) would also find the Rebel’s blue end zone on a four yard run mid-way through the 3rd quarter to extend the lead to 24-3. The Rebel’s would finally chip their way down the field on a 14 play drive finding the end zone with 1:34 in the 3rd quarter, 24-10. Cobbs (SR) was firmly in control of this game, outpacing Fairfax defenders for a 60 yard touchdown run. Cobbs (SR) would be responsible for three touchdowns and 206 total yards – 128 on the ground, 49 receiving, and 29 in the air.

Down 30-10 with 4:43 to play in the game, Fairfax used their timeouts and took advantage of a poor offensive drive by Hayfield to score twice in the final 1:33. Their last gasp attempt at an onside kick with seven seconds remaining bounced out of bounds, sealing the victory for Hayfield. The series between Hayfield and Fairfax is knotted at three games apiece. The six point win was the closest margin of victory in any of the contests. If Hayfield expects to be competitive in their next game against South County, they’re going to have to play the villain, on their home turf.​

Next up: vs. South County (1-2) | Friday, September 22 | 7:00 pm

More photos by Juan Navas.
Photos by Dr. Kinder.

1T. Woodbridge (86) 28.67
1T. Yorktown (86) 28.67
3. South Lakes (114) 28.50
4T. Freedom (PW) (84) 28.00
4T. Hayfield (84) 28.00
6. Mount Vernon (110) 27.50
7. Westfield (82) 27.33
8. Madison (109) 27.25
9. West Springfield (80) 26.67
10. Centreville (103) 25.75
11T. C.D. Hylton (76) 25.33
11T. Patriot (76) 25.33
13. Battlefield (101) 25.25
14. T.C. Williams (99) 24.75
15. Marshall (73) 24.33
16. Annandale (72) 24.00
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West Potomac (95) 23.75
Herndon (70) 23.33
Robinson (89) 22.25
Fairfax (88) 22.00
Forest Park (88) 22.00
South County (60) 20.00
Osbourn (77) 19.25
Stonewall Jackson (M) (77) 19.25
W.T. Woodson (77) 19.25
JEB Stuart (57) 19.00
Charles Colgan (75) 18.75
Oakton (52) 17.33
Lake Braddock (51) 17.00
Washington-Lee (51) 17.00
Chantilly (66) 16.50
Osbourn Park (65) 16.25
Langley (64) 16.00
Gar-Field (47) 15.67
McLean (47) 15.67

For more information on how power points are calculated and used for determining playoffs, click here.

Mark your calendars to support the Hayfield Football Team!

When: Wednesday, September 13 5:00pm-8:00pm

Where: 7013-F Manchester Blvd, Alexandria, VA 22310

How: ​You must tell the cashier it's for Hayfield or your purchase won't count.

Thank you for your support!