Hopewell denies Burrell on late touchdown run

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, September 1, 2017 | 11:30 PM

After a spectacular 86-yard run by Burrell's Logan Bitar with 3 minutes, 58 seconds left in the fourth quarter, it looked like the Bucs and Hopewell were headed to overtime.

But an 8-yard run by DeShaun Sanders with 1:01 to play lifted the Vikings to a 12-6 victory at Tony Dorsett Stadium in a nonconference game.

Sanders had skirted the left sideline for a 53-yard run midway through the first quarter to give Hopewell (1-1) a lead it held until Bitar's run.

Sanders finished with 147 rushing yards. Bitar had 185 for the Bucs (1-1).

On the extra point after Bitar's touchdown, Dom Zottola corralled a high snap from center and threw a desperation pass after being chased by Hopewell special teams players.

R.J. Beach's squib kickoff was pounced on by junior Frank Bertucci at the Vikings 45, and Hopewell drove for the deciding score in eight plays.

“We knew they were going to squib it at us,” Vikings coach Mark Washington said. “We told our guys to watch ourselves and we moved some of our back guys up to the middle of the row. We put Frankie on (special teams) in the middle of the week, and he jumped right on that ball.”

A key play during the decisive drive was a 17-yard pass to Tyler Sabo to the Burrell 21.

“They got the momentum from us, and that was a huge play,” Bucs coach Dave Bellinotti said. “The momentum just flipped and they pounded it down our throats.”

Three plays later, Sanders skirted the left side and followed Garrett Nicol's block into the corner of the end zone.

After the score, Burrell lost the ball on downs with 7 seconds left when quarterback Seth Tatrn was stopped by Nathan Wodarek inches short of a first down.

Hopewell was set to go up by two touchdowns early in the fourth quater. But an interception by sophomore Seth Fischbach at the Burrell 5 halted the bid.

Burrell then scored three plays later.

“We made a couple of adjustments at halftime, thanks to our great (assistant) coaching staff,” Bellinotti said. “They picked up some things on the offensive line and switched some backs around. We knew it was there, we knew it was a block away and we found it and Bitar did not disappoint.”

“We didn't read our keys,” Washington said. “Our guys got lax. We missed him right in his backfield and that kid took off. That kid's a hard runner.”

Both teams made their share of stellar defensive plays. Hopewell intercepted three passes and had a fourth disallowed with a defensive holding penalty.

Burrell drove to the Hopewell 11 late in the first half, but the Vikings forced an incomplete pass.

Hopewell drove to the Burrell 22 in the third quarter, but Alex Bellinotti tackled Sanders on a pitch for a 6-yard loss on fourth down. Bitar had an earlier fumble recovery.

“We buckled down,” coach Bellinotti said. “It was nothing fancy, just good, old-fashioned football.”

Hopewell quarterback Mason Colvin threw for 118 yards.

George Guido is a freelance writer.

Tags: Burrell, Hopewell