Hereford football gets by New Town again

Hereford gets by New Town 10-7 to advance in the MPSSAA-2A playoffs

No. 15 Hereford used a stout running game, a few trick plays and a resilient defense to defeat New Town 10-7 in a Class 2A North Region second round playoff contest in Baltimore County.

The Bulls (10-1 overall) will host a state quarterfinal next Friday evening. Senior wide receiver/ kicker Grady Moran accounted for all 10 points for the Bulls.

After playing to a victoriouis 9-0 score earlier in the season, Hereford coach John Walter knew points would be at a premium Friday.

On fourth down-and-three from the New Town 32-yard line late in the opening quarter, Hereford lined up in punt formation. The ball was snapped to senior fullback Baylor Davis who burst through a large hole for 29 yards, down to the New Town three-yard line.

The drive stalled however, and Moran got the Bulls on the board with a 28-yard field goal. New Town switched to a no-huddle offense in the second, but the Titans could find little traction in the wet and windy conditions.

Hereford put together a lengthy, time-consuming drive. On fourth-and-three from New Town’s 12, sophomore halfback Chris Makowy took a toss from senior quarterback Grayson Ayres for what looked like a halfback sweep.

Ayres stopped and threw the ball to Moran, who slipped past the New Town defense and was wide open in the end zone for the touchdown, putting Herford up 10-0 with 21 seconds remaining in the first half.

“That D-line is incredible, We knew we were in for a struggle, hence the need for the fake punt and halfback toss-pass,” said Walter. " We knew we would need some trickery.”

“We run a Wing-T offense, so I don’t get a ton of touches. I’ve been waiting for my opportunity and luckily it came tonight,” said Moran. " I have a soccer background so when our kicker JP Revitte went down I stepped up.”

The Bulls’ cushion, however, didn’t make it to the locker room. New Town junior quarterback Carlos Harrison hit senior wide receiver Jaden Gordon in-stride cutting across the middle of the field. Gordon turned on the jets and raced down the left sideline untouched for a 73-yard touchdown to bring the Titans (7-4) to within three points at 10-7 at halftime.

It was the only big play the Titans’ offense managed Friday as Hereford’s defense shut it down in the second half.

Meanwhile, the Bulls’ undersized offensive line created just enough room to provide several clutch first-downs, allowing the Bulls to consume large chunks of clock.

“The O-line, they worked so hard all summer. They’re not the biggest, they’re not the fastest, but I think they are the most athletic offensive line around. They worked their butts off all year to get us to this point.”

Hereford has won nine straight since a week two lost to No. 5 Milford Mill Academy. The Bulls will find out their state quarterfinal opponent late Saturday afternoon.

CLASS 2A NORTH REGION PLAYOFFS

SECOND ROUND

No. 15 HEREFORD 10, NEW TOWN 7

New Town 0 7 0 0 - 7

Hereford 3 7 0 0 - 10

Hereford - Grady Moran 28 field goal

Hereford - Moran 12 pass from Chris Makowy (Moran kick)

New Town - Jaden Gordon 73 pass from Carlos Harrison (kick good)

More From The Banner

Baltimore’s oddest island: Key Bridge shines new light on abandoned fort

Helena Hicks, civil rights crusader who countered segregation with sit-ins, dies at 88

Suspect in Pikesville AI case set off red flags before racist recording spread

Errors in Nick Mosby’s latest fundraising report raise even more questions