Hawks finish strong for Heister Belt, Harnett title

Triton scored with 1:51 to go on a 4-yard touchdown run by Ja’Quavis Jackson for a 24-21 varsity football win over visiting Harnett Central on Friday night.

The Hawks took possession of the belt that went to the winner of the inaugural Heister Bowl and claimed the Harnett County championship with All American Conference wins against Overhills, Western Harnett and the Trojans over the last three games — in eight days — of the season.

Triton went 4-6 overall and 4-3 in league play. Central finished 2-7, 2-5. Projections had the Hawks just mssing the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs as an at-large team.

Nate McKoy had two sacks on Central’s last possession.

Triton took a 14-0 lead on a 15-yard run by Camauri McDougald with 10:56 left in the first quarter and a 1-yard run by J.J. Cowan on 4th-and-goal with 10:38 left in the half.

Central rallied for a tie at 14 at the half with TDs coming on a 1-yard run by Marquez Jones and an 8-yard run by Chris Mills.

A 32-yard field goal by Carter Daughtry gave the Hawks a 17-14 lead with 6:27 left in the third quarter.

The Trojans went ahead, 21-17, on a scoring reception by Mills with 2:32 remaining in the third.

A 42-yard catch and run by Jamws Shaw to the Central 4-yard line set up the Hawks’ winning touchdown.

Triton’s schedule was compacted at the end of the season with multiple make-up games from COVID postponements.

“Very proud of our guys for making it through this stretch of five games in 15 days,” said Hawks coach Ben Penny. “Tonight was a battle of momentum. We talked about that at halftime.

“When we got it back, they believed they could win and they did.

“Harnett Central played very hard tonight. It was a great high school football game.

“It was a special night for our seniors, going out with a county championship and the Heister Belt.

“James Shaw was lights out tonight. Big catch and run at the end to set up the touchdown. He never came off the field.

“Defensively, we made some good adjustments at halftime. The guys bought in to it and got the job done in the second half.

“Great ending for our seniors.”

Triton had its Senior Night earlier as a precaution against potential cancelations due to COVID.

The outcome put Central’s lead in the series at 12-11.