Hawks Play Best Football at the End of the Season
The Harding varsity football team played its final two games as the month of September concluded and the calendar turned to October. In the annual Spirit game, it took a last minute goal line stand by Grace Christian Academy to hold off the Hawks 16-12, but Harding was able to rebound in its final game of the year in a rematch against JP II to win 16-13.
Skyler Moore '25 led a vaunted rushing attack against GCA as the Hawks came back from a 16-6 halftime deficit. The offensive front five of James Held '26, Ashton Vanderpool '25, Jackson Brown '25, Ayden Love '25 and Ellis Masic '25. Riley Bundren '25 showed his versatility moving out to WR and catching a touchdown pass from quarterback, Elijah Westbrook '25. GCA was unable to stop the Harding rushing attack and as the clock wound down in the 4th quarter, down 16-12, Harding pushed the ball down to the 2 yard line. The effort fell just short as the Hawks were stopped on 4th down. Harding's defensive front of Ellis Masic '25, Ayden Love '25, Jackson Brown '25, Ben Lucas '25, and Finn Castle '25 were solid and limited GCA's big play running backs to only a few explosive plays over the course of the game.
In the final game of the year, the Hawks played in a playoff consolation game against JP II. Earlier in the season, Harding traveled to Hendersonville to play JP II and fell 22-12. This time, the team would not be denied. Harding raced out to a 16-0 lead on the strength of a long touchdown run by Riley Bundren '25 and a 50+ yd touchdown pass from Elijah Westbrook '25 to Bundren. Another long touchdown run by Bundren was called back on a holding penalty. The secondary of Holden Thomas '25, Avin Burditt '15, Riley Husbands '26, and Mateen Khalili '25 played superbly the entire game holding a JP II passing attack that had hurt the Hawks in the first game to very few pass receptions. Skyler Moore '25 was again the workhorse in the backfield carrying the ball over 10 times in the game. Moore gained several key first downs and had a long gain on a fake reverse in the second half to help lead the Harding offensive attack.
Overall, Harding finished 2-3 on the 2024 season. The coaches were incredibly proud of the improvement the team made throughout the year. The team was able to finish the season on a winning note avenging an earlier loss to JP II. Way to go, Hawks!
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Skyler Moore '25 led a vaunted rushing attack against GCA as the Hawks came back from a 16-6 halftime deficit. The offensive front five of James Held '26, Ashton Vanderpool '25, Jackson Brown '25, Ayden Love '25 and Ellis Masic '25. Riley Bundren '25 showed his versatility moving out to WR and catching a touchdown pass from quarterback, Elijah Westbrook '25. GCA was unable to stop the Harding rushing attack and as the clock wound down in the 4th quarter, down 16-12, Harding pushed the ball down to the 2 yard line. The effort fell just short as the Hawks were stopped on 4th down. Harding's defensive front of Ellis Masic '25, Ayden Love '25, Jackson Brown '25, Ben Lucas '25, and Finn Castle '25 were solid and limited GCA's big play running backs to only a few explosive plays over the course of the game.
In the final game of the year, the Hawks played in a playoff consolation game against JP II. Earlier in the season, Harding traveled to Hendersonville to play JP II and fell 22-12. This time, the team would not be denied. Harding raced out to a 16-0 lead on the strength of a long touchdown run by Riley Bundren '25 and a 50+ yd touchdown pass from Elijah Westbrook '25 to Bundren. Another long touchdown run by Bundren was called back on a holding penalty. The secondary of Holden Thomas '25, Avin Burditt '15, Riley Husbands '26, and Mateen Khalili '25 played superbly the entire game holding a JP II passing attack that had hurt the Hawks in the first game to very few pass receptions. Skyler Moore '25 was again the workhorse in the backfield carrying the ball over 10 times in the game. Moore gained several key first downs and had a long gain on a fake reverse in the second half to help lead the Harding offensive attack.
Overall, Harding finished 2-3 on the 2024 season. The coaches were incredibly proud of the improvement the team made throughout the year. The team was able to finish the season on a winning note avenging an earlier loss to JP II. Way to go, Hawks!
Inspiring The Mind • Nurturing The Spirit