Germantown Academy edges Hill in opener
The defense produced a consistently intense and effective effort.
The offense rose to the occasion — albeit late — by SrRvLGLnJ WKH HTuDOLzHr WR Germantown Academy’s early score, and the special teams even had their moments of glory.
BuW WKH finDO numEHrscrunching couldn’t give The Hill School a victory in its season opener Saturday. Instead, the Blues came away from a hot afternoon on their KRmH fiHOG wLWK D 7-6 ORss WR their non-league guests.
A misplay on a two-point conversion attempt, with 3W28 left in the game and the Hill fresh from reducing WKH GHfiFLW WR RnH, SrRvHG WKH difference. It negated what had been a yeoman performance across the board, the locals seeing one last possession get only as far as their 39-yard line before being stopped on downs with little more than a minute left.
“This was teek lne. lur goal is to get better each week in preparation for our (0LG-AWODnWLF 3rHS) OHDJuH opener,” head coach Grey Simpson said. “Right now, we have concern over our lack of depth and injuries.”
The injury factor played a critical part in the Hill’s comeback bid. Simpson noted the conversion team attempted the two-point play minus several key personnelW Adam Regensburg in WKH EDFNfiHOG, DnG ORnJ snDSper Sean Dougherty.
Instead of getting what would have been a one-point lead off the touchdown — a 40-yDrG SDss IrRm TuDrWHrback Grant Smith to wide receiver Seth Regensburg — A.J. Garcia ended up coverLnJ D KLJK snDS. 7KH 3DWrLRWs got the ball back and ran almost two minutes off the FORFN, WKHn rDn RII WKH finDO minute with two “knees” to sew up their season-opening win.
“I told the guys that was my fault,” Simpson said. “I have to do a better job of play-calling. Going with the muddle-huddle extra-point team, I should have known we had key people injured. te should have either gone with our regular offense, or kicked the extra point.”
“:H sDw LW Rn fiOm, DnG DGjusted to it,” GA head coach Matt Dence said of the play. “te were ready for it. I’m glad we didn’t have to go into a last-second situation.”
The Hill defense rose to
teams even had their moments of glory.
BuW WKH finDO nuPbHUscrunching couldn’t give qhe Hill School a victory in its season opener Saturday. fnsteadI the Blues came away from a hot afternoon on their KRPH fiHOG wLWK D 7-6 ORss WR their non-league guests.
A misplay on a two-point conversion attemptI with PWO8 left in the game and the Hill fresh from reducing WKH GHfiFLW WR RnH, SURvHG WKH difference. ft negated what had been a yeoman performance across the boardI the locals seeing one last possession get only as far as their P9-yard line before being stopped on downs with little more than a minute left.
“qhis was Week One. Our goal is to get better each week in preparation for our Ejid-Atlantic mrep) league openerI” head coach Grey Simpson said. “oight nowI we have concern over our lack of depth and injuries.”
qhe injury factor played a critical part in the Hill’s comeback bid. Simpson noted the conversion team attempted the two-point play minus several key personnelW Adam oegensburg in WKH bDFNfiHOG, DnG ORnJ snDSper Sean aougherty.
fnstead of getting what would have been a one-point lead off the touchdown — a 4M-yard pass from quarterback Grant Smith to wide receiver Seth oegensburg — A.g. Garcia ended up covering a high snap. qhe matriots got the ball back and ran almost two minutes off the clockI WKHn UDn RII WKH finDO PLnuWH with two “knees” to sew up their season-opening win.
“f told the guys that was my faultI” Simpson said. “f have to do a better job of play-calling. Going with the muddle-huddle extra-point teamI f should have known we had key people injured. We should have either gone with our regular offenseI or kicked the extra point.”
“:H sDw LW Rn fiOP, DnG DGjusted to itI” GA head coach jatt aence said of the play. “We were ready for it. f’m glad we didn’t have to go into a last-second situation.”
qhe Hill defense rose to the occasion most of the afternoonI stunting GA no less than three times on deep forays into the Blues’ end RI WKH fiHOG Ln WKH fiUsW KDOI. One red-zone trip ended on downs at the sevenI and two other successive ones ended wLWK PLssHG fiHOG-JRDO DWWHPSWs — WKH fiUsW by BRbby cloodI a OR-yarderI blocked by Colin jcjenamin.
Brandt BeckI Austin Black DnG CKULs AUJHnWL DOO fiJuUHG in on sacks of GA quarterback Hayes kolteI heading a unit that limited the matriots to just 44 yards rushing.
“qhe defense really played hardI” Simpson said. “qhe coaching staff did a great job getting them ready. We were looking for NN players who wLOO JR DW LW KDUG, fly WR WKH ball. f think we found them.”
But the Hill offense was unable to get on track in the early going. ft wasn’t able to FURss PLGfiHOG unWLO ODWH Ln the third quarterI and three possessions — one getting within ON yards of the end zone — stalled on downs.
qhat shortfall ended when AGDP 5HJHnsbuUJ fiHOGHG a GA punt at his 4S and returned it to the matriots P9. qwo plays laterI Smith E8-forONI TP yards) hooked up with Seth oegensburg Esix catches for TT yards) on a 4M-yard toss oegensburg collected in the back of the end zone.
“We’ve just got to get our receivers to get out and make playsI” Simpson said. “We also have to get better protection from the line.”