(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski) caption: FIRST STEP: Hun School sophomore running back Kylan Baker races upfield last Friday in Hun’s 21-20 overtime win against visiting Episcopal Academy (Pa.). Baker rushed for 158 yards as the Raiders opened their 2010 campaign on a high note. The Raiders will host Mercersburg Academy on September 25.

Hun School Squanders 14-0 Lead in Opener But Shows Character in Earning 21-20 OT Win

Bill Alden

Featuring a mammoth offensive line that averages 270 pounds a player, the Hun School football team appeared to be pounding Episcopal Academy (Pa.) into submission last Friday.

With running backs Kylan Baker and Julian Hayes barreling through the holes created by Wendy Laurent, Anthony Alosi, Al Dillione, Zach Hundertmark, and Jonathan Zuttah, Hun built a 14-0 lead by halftime in its season opener.

But in the second half, Episcopal’s passing and ability to convert third downs changed the tone of the contest. The Churchmen scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 14-14 and force overtime.

While the Hun players could’ve been hanging their heads after squandering their halftime advantage, Hayes wasn’t about to accept defeat.

After exhorting the offense with a fiery pep talk in the break before overtime, Hayes ripped through the Episcopal defense. He powered through the Churchmen for a 12-yard gain on first down and one play later, flew over the pile for a three-yard touchdown. Kicker Ian Maltz hit his third extra point of the day and Hun took a 21-14 lead.

The drama wasn’t over, however, as Episcopal marched in for a touchdown to pull within 21-20. After a Hun offsides, the Churchmen elected to decide the game right there, going for a two-point conversion. The Raiders made one last big play as the defense batted away a Churchman pass to seal a 21-20 victory for Hun.

The incomplete pass triggered a post-game mob scene as the Raiders hugged and screamed on the field to celebrate their narrow escape.

Afterward, a grinning head coach, Dave Dudeck, praised his team’s unity and resilience.

“I think what we saw today is that a game like this helps you bond together,” said Dudeck, noting that a lot of his players saw their first significant varsity experience in the contest.

“They showed a lot of heart; it was not an easy game at all. It was an old fashioned slug ’em out, grind it out game. Both teams hit and were physical. I am real proud of our guys for hanging in there.”

Dudeck acknowledged that things came easier for Hun in the early stages of the contest.

“I think in the first half, we totally controlled the ball; we just took the ball out of their hands,” said Dudeck.

“In the second half, they seemed to get the ball a little more and made some big third down plays to keep moving the ball. Their passing game gave us a little bit of trouble. Hats off to their quarterback and receivers and the rest of them; they did a good job.”

The Raiders did a good job in overtime as they regained momentum. “When we went into overtime, our kids were psyched,” said Dudeck.

“Our kids were very excited to get out and get after it and go get a win. I think you saw that by the drive and then they hung in there again. One thing that shouldn’t go unnoticed is the defensive stand in the first half and the defensive stand at the goal line in overtime so that was huge. They made some big plays.”

Hun got a lot of big plays from their star running backs as Hayes ran for 172 yards and three touchdowns while Baker gained 158.

“I hope they are going to be a one-two punch for us and I think they showed today that they could be,” asserted Dudeck. “They just did a great job. We are still getting in shape as a team so they played through all of that. They did a wonderful, wonderful job.”

The Hun line could also shape into something special. “I was proud of our line,” said Dudeck. “For the big boys, starting a game in the afternoon in the heat is not easy. They hung in there through the whole game and kept playing.”

In Dudeck’s view, the way the team hung in there collectively last Friday could be a harbinger of good things to come.

“It is a hard-fought victory and sometimes you learn the most out of those type of things,” said Dudeck, whose team hosts Mercersburg Academy on September 25.

“We are going to try like heck to build on this and go into practice next week and get after it.”

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