HAWTHORNE — The celebration for Hawthorne mirrored a state championship.
A program like the Hornets, with two straight state championships and a two-year win streak, knows what that feels like.
They know most August games don’t reach that level.
This wasn’t like most August games, and that’s why the seconds after the game represented New Orleans during Mardi Gras.
Hawthorne extended its win streak to 27 Friday night in the most dramatic of fashions with a 28-27 win over Newberry in overtime.
Adrian Curtis scored on a QB draw to begin the extra session, but Newberry QB Colin Dunmore responded with one of his own on the first play of the Panther possession.
NHS coach Ed Johnson knew what he wanted to do next.
“I had complete confidence in my team, complete confidence that we could get three yards,” he said. “We’re beat up, we’re cramping, and we didn’t want to go to a second overtime.”
Dunmore had scored on a two-point in the fourth quarter on basically a tush push, so Hawthorne’s goal was to build a wall.