HAGERSTOWN, Md. — North Hagerstown came out of halftime Friday night looking like a different team offensively.
After being shut out in the first half, the Hubs scored on their first three possessions of the second half and rode a dominant defensive performance to a 17-7 victory over Century at Mike Callas Stadium.
The win was the third straight for North, which improved to 3-2 after an 0-2 start. Century fell to 3-2.
“I told them right before we came down (for the second half) that we’re where we want to be,” North coach Nathan Butts said of the Hubs’ 7-0 halftime deficit. “If someone had told you at 8 a.m. it’d be a 7-0 ballgame, we all would’ve taken that.
“Century’s a heck of a team. They’re big, they’re physical. We matched their physicality and actually surpassed it at the end of the game.”
North’s defense allowed just 165 yards of total offense and 43 on the ground while recording seven sacks.
Donald Rivers led the charge with 12 tackles, five tackles for loss and four sacks. The four sacks were the second most in a single game in North history.
The Knights struck first, with Shane Weigle connecting with Will Koenig for a 71-yard touchdown with 1:44 remaining in the first quarter.
That was all the scoring until North came out of halftime and took control.
Facing fourth-and-11 on its first possession of the third quarter, Ronnie Savage found Carter Croft for a 24-yard touchdown with 5:49 remaining. Chase Garver’s extra point tied the game at 7.
“That turned everything around,” Butts said.
Garver then gave North its first lead, drilling a 35-yard field goal with 46 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
The Hubs made it three scores in three second-half possessions after Antonio Rivera-Herrera returned an interception 30 yards to the Century 20. Michael Stewart powered into the end zone from a yard out with 9:34 remaining, stretching North’s lead to 17-7.
“Antonio played a heck of a game, his best game all year by far,” Butts said. “He had the big hit up here, and then the interception was huge.”
Stewart carried 23 times for 110 yards and the touchdown as North gradually took control on the ground. The Hubs finished with 153 rushing yards on 41 attempts.
“Our O-line really started wearing them down, and Mike was running the ball hard,” Butts said.
Savage completed 3 of 10 passes for 56 yards and the touchdown, while Croft caught two passes for 59 yards.
Rivera-Herrera added two tackles for loss and a sack to his interception. Liam Kline had two tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble, while Mykai Bostic added a sack. Sydney Smith finished with eight tackles.
North will try to extend its winning streak next week against county rival Williamsport.
