Rabbits lose heartbreaker to Hooks Hornets, 42-35

Atlanta entered last week’s game against Hooks needing a win to get into the playoffs. The game was a back-and-forth slugfest which wasn’t decided until late. A good turn of events for Atlanta ended up being overturned and what could have been a change of momentum and possibly a Rabbit victory ended up keeping Atlanta out of the playoffs as Hooks prevailed 42-35. The Rabbits lead the all-time series 27-9-1 and hadn’t lost to Hooks since 1999.

First Quarter

Hooks won the toss and opted to receive the ball. The Rabbits were gifted the rock after recovering a fumble on the kickoff. The recovery set the Rabbs up at the Hooks’ 29-yard line. Caleb Hamilton took the first handoff of the drive and senior Dra Nelson took the second. Nelson, who had been nursing an injury, never returned to the game after that lone carry. Facing third down Rabbit quarterback Kade Wood connected with wideout Terunte Neal for 12 yards and a first down. Sophomore running back Keith Kinney entered the contest and promptly gained 14 yards on two carries with the latter being a 9-yard touchdown. Wood, who came on to kick the PAT, put the ball into the air nicely but it caromed off the goal post leaving the score at 6-0 with 10:28 left in the first quarter. Hooks answered on its first drive of the game as the Hornets drove 51 yards in six plays for a score. The PAT put the Hornets up 7-6 with 8:21 left in the first frame. On the kickoff a pooch kick was caught in stride by a Hooks player and the Hornets were back in business at the Rabbit 33. Nine plays and nearly four minutes later Hooks scored its second touchdown of the game. The PAT was good and the Rabbs were down 14-6 with 4:46 left in the quarter. Atlanta’s next drive stalled and Cooper McClure was brought in to punt the ball away. An errant hike sailed over his head and he raced back to retrieve the ball and punted it away. A penalty against Hooks gave the ball back to the Rabbits. A volley of runs by Hamilton and Wood and two passes from Wood to Neal and Wood to Jordan Stiger set the Rabbs up at the Hornets’ 10-yard line. A stout stand by Hooks’ defense brought up fourthand-4 from the 8-yard line a few plays later. The quarter ended with Atlanta facing fourth down.

Second Quarter

Another errant snap overhead gave Hooks the ball back to open the new quarter. The Rabbs’ defense never allowed Hooks to get past the 37-yard line and after six plays the Hornets punted the ball away with just under nine minutes left in the first half. Working from the 25, Wood took the first snap two yards before rumbling for 48 down to the Hooks’ 33-yard line. A personal foul by Hooks at the end of the play set the ball on the 18. The drive ended with Kinney racking up 18 yards on two carries and another touchdown. Kinney also crossed the goal line on the 2-point conversion to set the score at 14-all with 7:40 left in the second stanza. Hooks answered on its next drive with two big pass plays fueling the Hornets to a touchdown with 4:11 left on the clock. The PAT was good and Hooks was back on top 21-14. Hamilton picked up 19 yards on three carries during the Rabbs’ next drive but the drive stalled a few plays afterwards. After failing to make a first down on fourth-and-5 the Rabbits turned the ball over at the 40-yard line with 2:08 left in the half. Hooks knew Atlanta was going to receive the ball to open the second half and wanted to go into the break up as much as possible. The 10-play drive ended with another Hooks touchdown with just seven ticks left on the clock. The PAT was good and Hooks increased its lead to 28-14.

Third Quarter

With its back and season against the wall the Rabbs came out swinging to open the second half. Kinney rolled up 25 yards to open the drive and a few runs by Hamilton and one by Wood put the ball at the 26. From there Wood connected with J.J. Fields for a Rabbit touchdown. Hernandez kicked the PAT and the Rabbs were within 28-21 with 9:19 left in the third quarter. After holding Hooks from crossing the 50 on its next drive Atlanta receives the ball after a Hornet punt with 7:10 on the clock. Working from the 20-yard line Wood scrambled for five yards before picking up 17 yards on the second play. Kinney came in and picked up 10 yards and Hamilton accrued nine yards on two carries. Staying with the ground and pound game Wood bolted for 19 yards and followed that up with a 10-yard outburst. Hamilton finished off the 9-play drive with a touchdown. Hernandez hit the PAT and the game was tied at 28-all with 4:03 left in the third quarter. Hooks used the short gain method on its next drive as the quarter ended after 10 plays.

Fourth Quarter

Two plays into the final frame and Hooks was back in the endzone. The PAT was missed, however, and the score stood at 34-28 with 11:38 left in the game. Both teams traded possessions but Atlanta retained the ball with just over five minutes left in the game. Working from the 1-yard line after a stout goal line stand by the Rabbit defense Kinney bolted for 27 yards. A penalty against Atlanta negated the nice run by Kinney but the Rabbs found a way to move the ball down the field with runs by Hamilton and Kinney plus an 11-yard pass play from Wood to Neal. Three straight plays resulting in zero yards brought up fourth down. With the season hanging in the balance Wood connected with a streaking Hamilton and the “Jet” raced 64 yards to paydirt. Hernandez hit the PAT and Atlanta was up 35-34 with 3:11 left in the game. The next Hornet drive may be talked about among Atlanta fans for some time. On the fourth play of the drive Trey Adams hit the quarterback and he fumbled the ball which was recovered by the Rabbits. The referees revered the call siting that his arm was moving forward. So it became an incomplete pass and Hooks retained possession of the ball. Of course this happened on the Hooks side of the stadium but from where I was sitting it looked like the “tuck rule”. The QB looked to pull the ball in with thoughts of running but the call from the refs stood and Hooks went on to score a touchdown with 47 seconds left on the clock. The 2-point play set the score at 42-35. Whether the next kick was meant to be an onside kick or not is still up in the air. Unfortunately the Hornets fell on the ball and the game and Atlanta’s season ended after two kneels.