Hawks punch their ticket to championship game

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The WJ Mouat Hawks punched their ticket to the AAA finals using a drastically different formula from their 76-53 barn burner from last week. The Hawks leaned on their defence until the second half, when their offence started playing to its standard in a 24-17 win that came down to the wire.

The Hawks' defensive unit did everything within their power to limit Sun Devils star Damian Dumas. They held the starting pivot to a lone touchdown pass to Quinn Sjoberg on a perfect pass that split two defenders. Sjoberg did the rest, breaking multiple tackles on his way to the endzone on a remarkable effort late in the fourth quarter.

Other than that major, the Sun Devils' offence struggled to find its footing the rest of the evening. A big part of keeping South Delta out of the endzone was Elijah Black. 

The Hawks' star quarterback also played some sam linebacker and made his presence felt from the opening drive. Black made multiple emphatic tackles in the open field, which had the potential to be chunk plays. 

Luckily for the Sun Devils, their defence played remarkably as well and kept them in the game until the final whistle. South Delta made a Mouat offence that looked invincible just a week prior, come back down to earth in the first half, holding them to just 10 points.

The Sun Devils rushed just 3 and played max coverage while taking away deep shots to Max Pratt for the most part. Black was forced to be patient and take his checkdowns and underneath routes. South Delta defensive end Kyler Purbs had an outstanding game, creating pressure on Black by splitting double teams with inside moves and getting into the backfield.

Trailing 10-3 to start the third quarter, Sun Devils guard/linebacker/kick returner Luke Dunn caught the opening kickoff of half number two at his 11-yard line. For the third time this season, Dunn broke into the open field and outran everyone to the endzone. Just like that, the game was tied at 10.

Black and the Hawks were unfazed. Offensively, they adjusted their plan and started working the intermediate parts of the field for chunk plays. Santiago Llarena on a crosser, Pratt on a deep out, Black using his legs to extend plays, before the Sun Devils knew it, the Hawks had scored 14 unanswered points. 

Dumas answered with the dime to Sjoberg previously mentioned to cut the lead to one score with 5:25 to go in regulation, but couldn't get the ball back after as Mouat chewed the clock on a long drive to ice the game.

The Hawks avoided the first true scare of their postseason and are now one game away from winning it all. They'll take on a talented Lord Tweedsmuir team for the AAA Championship game in what is bound to be a classic.