Hunters Football Rallies Past SelPort for Victory

Hunters found itself staring at a 12-point halftime deficit against one of the Northeast 1B League’s most explosive offenses Friday, Sept. 18. The Lions responded with their best defensive quarter of the season. Hunters shut out SelPort in the third quarter, scored 26 points after halftime, and rallied for a 48-42 NE1B victory Sept. 18, handing SelPort its first loss of the season.

SelPort carried a 34-22 advantage into halftime after scoring 14 points in the first quarter and 20 more in the second. Hunters had scored six in the opening quarter be- fore adding 16 in the second. The Lions flipped the game after the break. “After a few adjustments to get some of our key defenders on the outside, we were able to stand tall on defense and shut them out in the third quarter to gain the lead,” Hunters football head coach Jacob Turner said.

“We were able to maintain it through the fourth quarter.” Hunters outscored SelPort 14-0 in the third to turn its 12-point deficit into a 36-34 lead, then put another 12 points on the board in the fourth. SelPort answered with eight, but Hunters held on for the six-point victory. The comeback came one week after Hunters suffered a difficult late loss to Inchelium. Hunters used the ensuing film session to reset. “After a tough last-minute loss to Inchelium last week, we had a tough conversation as a team during our film session on Monday to discuss who we are and where we want to be as a team,” Turner said. “That talk helped us come into the rest of the week of practice with a new mindset and ready to work hard to prove the type of team we can be.”

Containing SelPort’s rushing attack was at the center of Hunters’ game plan, although that proved difficult in the first half. SelPort junior Cameron Mawdsley turned in a huge performance despite the loss, carrying 34 times for 350 yards and four touchdowns. The Lumberjacks piled up 408 rushing yards as a team and averaged 7.7 yards per carry. “We knew that SelPort has two of the fastest and most dangerous running backs. in our league, and if we were going to hang with them, we needed to contain the two of them and keep them from getting to the edge,” Turner said.

“The first half we struggled with that task.” The Lions’ halftime changes helped slow that attack long enough for their offense to erase the deficit. “Our guys showed up to play and had great energy all game,” Turner said. “We have multiple guys that can score on offense, and when we are able to fly around on defense and get all eight hats to the ball on each play, we can be a dangerous team.” The Hunters team has relied heavily on a young roster this fall. The Lions have just one senior and two juniors, but several younger players gained meaningful varsity experience last season. Sophomore quarterback Alex Biggs has emerged as a centerpiece of the offense.

Through Hunters’ first three games, Biggs has accounted for 15 touchdowns. “He is a workhorse,” Turner said. “But it helps to have three or four other guys around him that can score anytime they have the ball in their hands as well.” Turner also credited an offensive line he described as one of the stronger groups he has coached over the past five years. “They love to work hard, and take accountability and responsibility very seriously,” he said. The Lions have also received strong play in the secondary.

Michael Fagan has been one of the early standouts at cornerback, totaling three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery through three games. “We talked about our first two games and that we are only a couple plays away from being 3-0,” the coach said. “We worked through some growing pains, some mistakes, costly penalties, and we are ironing out the kinks each week.” For Hunters, the six-point victory was also an example of the mentality they have been emphasizing throughout the young season. “Our players are starting to learn and appreciate the ‘Play for your Brothers’ mentality,” Turner said, “and it is really showing on the field.