HUBBARD GRINDS OUT A DEFENSIVE BATTLE
By Jamie Thomson
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Garland Warren punched in a 5-yard touchdown run with 1 minute and 17 seconds remining in the ballgame to lead Hubbard (1-0) past Youngstown East, 10-6, on Friday night.
The Eagles’ game winning drive came after a forced three and out and a short punt the netted just 20-yards for the Golden Bears, setting Hubbard up at the East 30.
The 6-play possession took just over 2 minutes off the clock, and helped the Eagles escape with a miraculous victory in a game that felt was firmly in the hands of the Golden Bears. Hubbard survived four turnovers while forcing three in the process.
Still, the Golden Bears had a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds. After seeing starting quarterback Andrew Blackmon exit the game due to an injury, East backup quarterback Daryan Brownlee forced the ball down the field with urgency. The Golden Bears would get all the way down to the Eagle 24-yardline before time would expire.
Hubbard had the ball in East’s redzone on three separate occasions prior to the game winning drive but were only able to muster points once. Sophomore kicker Caleb McKay’s 29-yard field goal early in the second quarter would prove to be vital in the closing moments.
BIG PERFORMERS
HUBBARD:
Garland Warren: 9 carries, 40 rushing yards, 1 TD
YOUNGSTOWN EAST:
Thomas Davis: 9 carries, 42 rushing yards, 1 TD
UP NEXT
Hubbard: Opening the season with a road win for the first time since 2016 (the Eagles lost their only other opportunity in 2019) Hubbard will now head home for a cross-state matchup against the Greenville (PA) Trojans who have yet to kick off their regular season. The two squads faced off last season in a matchup that saw Hubbard escape with a 8-3 victory.
Youngstown East: Back-to-back season with back-to-back opening week losses to the Hubbard Eagles has the Golden Bears tied for last in the SVC. While the two catholic schools (Ursuline and Mooney) won their openers, the two publics both fell to 0-1 (East and Chaney). The Golden Bears will look to get back on track against a familiar foe in the East Cleveland Shaw Cardinals (0-1). Shaw will make the long drive to Rayen Stadium coming off a 58-0 shellacking against Mayfield.
