PA EAST WEEK 9 FEATURED GAME POSTGAME
HANOVER WINS THRILLER, KNOCKS OFF BIG SPRING 14–13 IN INCREDIBLE COMEBACK FASHION
HANOVER, PA — You ever heard the phrase “weather the storm”?
Well, that seems to be something the Hanover Nighthawks are absolutely incredible at.
Down 13–0 at halftime, the Nighthawks never flinched. They scored 14 unanswered points in the second half Friday night, taking down the previously unbeaten Big Spring Bulldogs in what was one of the best high school football games in Pennsylvania this week.
With the thrilling 14–13 victory, Hanover improved to a perfect 9–0, while Big Spring suffered its first loss of the season, falling to 8–1.
This one had everything: explosive plays, goal-line interceptions, costly mistakes, clutch defensive stops, and a fourth-quarter comeback that Nighthawks fans won't soon forget.
FIRST HALF: BIG SPRING TAKES CONTROL
Big Spring started the night with a big-time 50-yard kickoff return that was quickly called back due to holding, setting the Bulldogs up deep in their own territory to begin the game.
After a few solid runs from junior running back Jordan Myers, the Bulldogs faced a 4-and-2 situation while still in their own territory.
They went for it.
And they converted.
A gutsy decision by head coach Sinkovich had paid off.
However, on their next set of downs, the Bulldogs were forced to punt, giving Hanover its first offensive possession of the night.
The Nighthawks couldn't get anything going early offensively and quickly gave the ball right back to Big Spring.
That's when the Bulldogs began putting together a promising drive.
Senior running back Jesse Binger ripped off an explosive 24-yard run, moving the ball deep into Hanover territory.
But the Nighthawks weren't having it.
Junior defensive back Reese Long came up with a BIG-TIME interception on their own 5-yard line, preventing the Bulldogs from putting points on the board with just 1:30 remaining in the first quarter.
Backed up deep in their own territory, Hanover desperately needed some breathing room.
That's when senior quarterback Boden Strausbaugh made some magic happen.
Facing 3-and-10, Strausbaugh connected with senior Anthony “AJ” Wright for a HUGE 20-yard gain, moving the chains and giving the Nighthawks some life.
Long added a nice 16-yard reception to the drive before junior Colton Cue flew around the edge for an explosive 24-yard run, moving Hanover into Bulldog territory.
The Nighthawks eventually reached the red zone, but a few mistakes forced them to attempt a 35-yard field goal.
The kick came up just short.
With 6:39 remaining in the second quarter, we were still scoreless.
Big Spring got the ball back.
And the Bulldogs delivered almost immediately.
Junior running back Jordan Myers took the handoff, found an opening, and exploded 58 yards to the HOUSE, stunning the Hanover crowd and putting the first points of the night on the board.
BIG SPRING 7 — HANOVER 0
Hanover got the ball back but couldn't find an answer.
The Nighthawks lined up to punt near midfield, but that's when disaster struck.
A bad snap forced Hanover punter Juan Stern to take off with the football. He was ultimately stopped near the line of scrimmage, giving Big Spring terrific field position and another opportunity to score before halftime.
After a couple of strong runs from Myers and Binger, the Bulldogs found themselves at the Hanover 5-yard line.
That's when senior quarterback Nathan Baranoski connected with sophomore Wade Moore for a 5-yard touchdown pass.
Big Spring had extended its lead.
However, the Bulldogs missed the extra point.
A missed kick that would come back to haunt them later in the night.
HALFTIME: BIG SPRING 13 — HANOVER 0
The Bulldogs had controlled much of the opening half.
Hanover needed a response.
And the Nighthawks were about to deliver one.
SECOND HALF: THE NIGHTHAWKS COME ALIVE
The Hanover offense came out of halftime BLAZING HOT.
Junior running back Jesus Chavez led the charge.
Chavez carried the football 5 times for 63 yards on the opening drive of the second half, consistently finding running lanes and powering through the Bulldogs' defense.
He capped off the impressive possession with a 10-yard touchdown run, putting Hanover on the board and cutting the deficit to six.
BIG SPRING 13 — HANOVER 7
The momentum was beginning to shift.
Big Spring's offense couldn't get anything going on its first possession of the second half.
Hanover's Cooper Gerlach came up with a MASSIVE third-down pass breakup, forcing the Bulldogs into a three-and-out.
The Nighthawks couldn't capitalize on their next offensive possession, however, and were forced to give the football right back.
Big Spring began finding its rhythm again.
Behind the powerful running back duo of Myers and Binger, the Bulldogs started putting together another promising drive.
Chunk play after chunk play moved Big Spring down the field and eventually back into the red zone.
But then disaster struck.
For the second time of the night, a promising Big Spring scoring opportunity ended with a Hanover interception.
A tipped pass fell directly into the hands of junior Colton Cue, who secured the football and gave the Nighthawks possession near their own 10-yard line.
There were just 2:17 remaining in the third quarter.
Hanover was still trailing by six.
And the Nighthawks needed something special.
They were about to put together the biggest drive of their season.
Jesus Chavez got things started with a strong 14-yard carry up the middle.
Then, just before the end of the third quarter, Strausbaugh pulled another trick out of his bag.
What appeared destined to be a huge loss turned into a spectacular first-down conversion, moving Hanover near midfield.
FOURTH QUARTER: A DRIVE TO REMEMBER
To begin the fourth quarter, Cue hauled in a nice 10-yard reception.
Then Anthony “AJ” Wright delivered one of the biggest plays of the night.
Wright ripped off an absolutely MASSIVE 25-yard run, bursting through the defense and rumbling deep into Bulldog territory.
A horse-collar tackle penalty added another 15 yards to the play, giving Hanover a 40-yard gain and putting the Nighthawks inside the Big Spring red zone.
The Nighthawks were knocking on the door.
And a few plays later, they finally broke through.
Strausbaugh connected with Cue for a BEAUTIFUL 13-yard touchdown pass, giving Hanover its first lead of the night with just 9:20 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Nighthawks had marched more than 90 yards down the field and finished the drive with a clutch touchdown.
HANOVER 14 — BIG SPRING 13
From trailing 13–0 at halftime to taking the lead in the fourth quarter.
What a turnaround.
BIG-TIME teams make BIG-TIME plays.
And Hanover had just delivered.
BIG SPRING'S FINAL PUSH
Big Spring got the football back, but another costly mistake immediately put the Bulldogs in a difficult situation.
A mishandled kickoff return allowed Hanover's coverage unit to close in and make the tackle near the Big Spring 3-yard line.
The Bulldogs were backed up deep in their own territory.
But Jordan Myers wasn't going down without a fight.
Myers absolutely took over.
The junior running back carried the football 7 times for 57 yards, almost single-handedly moving Big Spring from the shadow of its own goal line deep into Hanover territory.
The Bulldogs were threatening to retake the lead.
But Hanover's defense had other plans.
On another Myers carry, Jesus Chavez met him in the backfield and delivered a HUGE hit, stopping the play for a loss and setting up second-and-long.
Myers appeared shaken up after the play and did not return to the game.
A few plays later, Big Spring came VERY close to scoring a touchdown.
The Bulldogs nearly completed a pass in the end zone, but the football grazed the ground, resulting in an incompletion and bringing up fourth down.
Big Spring elected to attempt a field goal with a chance to reclaim the lead.
The kick was close.
But it missed.
With 5:11 remaining, Hanover had the football and a one-point lead.
The Nighthawks managed to drain the remaining time off the clock, completing their third major comeback victory of the season.
FINAL: HANOVER 14 — BIG SPRING 13
An unbelievable finish to an outstanding District 3 showdown.
PA EAST TAKEAWAYS
BIG SPRING BULLDOGS (8–1)
The Bulldogs suffered their first loss of the season, but don't get it twisted.
Big Spring played a heck of a football game.
This is a big, physical football team that can run the ball extremely well.
The Bulldogs have playmakers on both sides of the football, and their offensive line consistently created opportunities for their talented running backs.
Unfortunately, two costly red-zone interceptions proved to be the difference.
Without those turnovers, this could have been an entirely different football game.
Despite the loss, Big Spring showed why it has been one of the top teams in District 3 4A this season.
Don't be surprised if the Bulldogs make some serious noise in the District 3 Class 4A playoffs.
#11 JORDAN MYERS | JR | RB/OLB
19 Carries | 159 Rushing Yards | 1 TD
Myers played tough, physical football all night long.
The junior running back was absolutely outstanding on the ground, carrying the football 19 times for 159 yards and a touchdown.
His explosive 58-yard touchdown run opened the scoring, and his fourth-quarter performance nearly carried the Bulldogs to a comeback of their own.
Myers consistently demonstrated his ability to break tackles, find running lanes, and pick up tough yardage.
An outstanding performance from the junior.
#10 JESSE BINGER | SR | RB
11 Carries | 67 Rushing Yards
I was extremely impressed by Binger's explosiveness and ability to gain yardage after contact.
The senior running back consistently ran with power and determination, helping the Bulldogs establish their physical rushing attack.
He finished with 67 yards on 11 carries and delivered several impressive runs throughout the night.
A strong performance on the ground from Binger.
#5 WADE MOORE | SO | WR/DE
4 Receptions | 49 Receiving Yards | 1 TD
Moore was impressive on both sides of the football all night long.
His size and physicality immediately stand out.
The sophomore is a versatile receiving threat who can make plays in multiple ways.
He finished with four receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown, including Big Spring's 5-yard scoring reception late in the first half.
Defensively, Moore was equally impressive.
He recorded multiple tackles for loss and consistently applied pressure to Hanover's quarterback.
A tremendous all-around performance from the sophomore.
#74 BLAKE GUTSHALL | JR | G/NG
Gutshall was an absolute force along the defensive line.
The junior consistently disrupted Hanover's offensive attack, making several big-time tackles in the backfield and applying pressure on the quarterback.
His physicality and ability to penetrate the offensive line made him a difficult matchup throughout the night.
Impressive play from Gutshall.
HANOVER NIGHTHAWKS (9–0)
The Nighthawks improved to a perfect 9–0 on the season.
And let me tell you something.
This is a special football team.
Hanover has absolutely no quit in them.
After talking with Strausbaugh, Chavez, and Cue following the game, I gained a better understanding of why this team has been so successful.
Their core leaders aren't just outstanding football players.
They're impressive young men who genuinely believe in one another.
Their determination, leadership, and ability to maintain a positive mindset when facing adversity are on another level.
Hanover is fast, physical, tough, and incredibly resilient.
The Nighthawks have playmakers all over the field, and when their backs are against the wall, someone always seems to step up.
Friday night was another perfect example.
A fantastic team victory for Hanover.
#8 BODEN STRAUSBAUGH | SR | QB
8/15 Passing | 1 Passing TD
Strausbaugh is an absolute pleasure to watch.
The senior quarterback consistently makes big plays, not only through the air but also with his legs.
His ability to extend plays and escape pressure creates opportunities that most quarterbacks simply wouldn't have.
He orchestrated Hanover's incredible 90-plus-yard, game-winning touchdown drive, delivering several clutch plays along the way.
Strausbaugh finished 8-of-15 passing with a touchdown.
An impressive performance from the senior leader.
#4 JESUS CHAVEZ | JR | RB/OLB
19 Carries | 129 Rushing Yards | 1 TD
PA EAST WEEK 9 PLAYER OF THE GAME
Chavez was absolutely outstanding, especially in the second half.
The junior running back ran with tremendous physicality and consistently found ways to move the chains.
He sparked Hanover's comeback with 63 rushing yards on the opening drive of the second half, finishing the possession with a 10-yard touchdown run.
But Chavez wasn't finished.
He also delivered several crucial defensive plays, including a massive tackle for loss during Big Spring's final scoring opportunity.
Chavez finished with 19 carries for 129 yards and a touchdown, along with multiple impactful defensive stops.
A spectacular two-way performance from the junior.
#7 COLTON CUE | JR | WR/FS
5 Carries | 38 Rushing Yards | 4 Receptions | 28 Receiving Yards | 1 TD | 1 INT
Cue is a two-way superstar for Hanover.
His speed, athleticism, and versatility immediately stand out.
The junior finished with five carries for 38 yards and four receptions for 28 yards, including the game-winning 13-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter.
But his offensive production tells only part of the story.
Cue also delivered a CLUTCH red-zone interception late in the third quarter, preventing Big Spring from extending its lead.
He added several important defensive tackles throughout the night.
Cue is an extremely impressive player to watch.
#3 REESE LONG | JR | WR/FS
3 Receptions | 45 Receiving Yards | 1 INT
Long had a heck of a night for Hanover.
The junior hauled in three receptions for 45 yards and made several important contributions offensively.
But his biggest moment came on defense.
With Big Spring threatening to score late in the first quarter, Long came up with a BIG-TIME interception on their own 5-yard line.
It was a tremendous defensive play that kept the Bulldogs off the scoreboard.
A great all-around performance from Long.
#2 ANTHONY “AJ” WRIGHT | SR | CB/RB
9 Carries | 63 Rushing Yards
Wright was extremely impressive throughout the night.
The senior is exceptionally quick and possesses the ability to make sharp, explosive cuts that leave defenders struggling to keep up.
His massive 25-yard fourth-quarter run, combined with a horse-collar tackle penalty, helped set up Hanover's game-winning touchdown.
Wright finished with nine carries for 63 yards and also contributed several important defensive tackles.
An impressive performance from the senior.
FINAL THOUGHTS: HANOVER PROVES IT BELONGS AMONG DISTRICT 3'S BEST
Some football games are decided by talent.
Others are decided by execution.
But every once in a while, you witness a game that comes down to something even bigger.
Heart. Resilience. And the refusal to lose.
That's exactly what Hanover displayed Friday night.
Trailing 13–0 at halftime against an undefeated Big Spring team, the Nighthawks could have easily let the moment overwhelm them.
Instead, they responded with 14 unanswered points, two crucial second-half scoring drives, and a defensive performance that kept them alive when the game was on the line.
What impressed me most wasn't necessarily the comeback itself.
It was how Hanover handled adversity.
There was no panic. No finger-pointing. No giving up.
Just a football team that believed it could win.
And that's something you simply can't teach overnight.
But let's not overlook Big Spring.
The Bulldogs were just a few plays away from walking out of Hanover with a massive victory of their own.
Jordan Myers was phenomenal, the offensive line consistently opened running lanes, and Big Spring's defense made life difficult for Hanover throughout much of the night.
Ultimately, the two red-zone interceptions and missed kicking opportunities proved costly.
At this level of football, especially against undefeated opponents, those little mistakes can make all the difference.
For Big Spring, this loss shouldn't define its season.
The Bulldogs have the physicality, offensive weapons, and defensive talent to make a serious postseason run.
And for Hanover?
Friday night was another statement.
The Nighthawks didn't just improve to 9–0.
They proved once again that no deficit is too large and no moment is too big.
With the District 3 playoffs approaching, both of these teams have the potential to make some serious noise.
And after witnessing this incredible battle firsthand, there's one thing I'm certain of:
If these two teams meet again, it'll be must-watch football.
Final Score: Hanover 14, Big Spring 13
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