It took an extra period to settle it, but the Warhawks escaped Freedom Field with a dramatic 17–14 overtime victory over the Starr’s Mill Panthers on Friday night.
Quarterback Trey Byrd put the Warhawks in control early. He broke free for a 28-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter, capping a quick three-play, 35-yard drive. Byrd struck again before halftime, this time through the air, finding Kaden Gutierrez for a 17-yard scoring pass that stretched the lead to 14–0 with 3:51 remaining in the second quarter.
The Panthers stayed quiet through the first half and 3rd quarter, but momentum shifted in the final frame. Fullback Blake Turner barreled into the end zone on a five-yard run to finish off a 14-play, 85-yard march, cutting the deficit to 14–7 with 11:56 left. Moments later, quarterback Braden Burkhalter knotted the game with a dazzling 33-yard keeper around the right side, evening the score at 14 with just over five minutes remaining.
The Warhawks nearly sealed it in regulation, but kicker David Drake missed a potential game-winning 35-yard field goal after being iced twice by Panthers’ timeouts. With no time left, the game headed to overtime.
Starr’s Mill threatened first but was stuffed at the four-yard line, coming away empty. The Warhawks then moved within striking distance, and the pressure fell again on Drake, who had already missed twice. This time, he delivered—drilling a clutch 32-yard field goal to secure the 17–14 victory.
The win improves the Warhawks’ early-season mark to 2-1 as they head into a week 4 bye. After the bye week, the Warhawks will face Perry at the Panther Pit on September 12th.
