The heart attack Hawks struck again, taking fans on a wild ride right up to the final second! Holly Springs was the first to score in their highly anticipated homecoming game against the Panther Creek Catamounts on Friday night. JJ Graves put the Hawks on the scoreboard with a 19 yard run, along with a Nick Hohns extra point. Panther Creek answered back with their own seven with 40 seconds to go in the quarter.

During the second quarter, the Catamounts took control of the Hawks with two touchdowns on pass plays, putting them ahead at the half 20-7. During an extended halftime, due to homecoming activities, the Hawks pulled together and came back out to a raucous crowd fueled by an alumni pumped fan section ready to conjure up that “Hawk magic”. Gaining momentum on a third quarter Graves touchdown/Hohns extra point combo, the Hawks chewed away at the Catamount lead, pulling up to 20-14.

The fourth quarter kept fans on their feet with elevated heart rates as the action on the field went into Hawk overdrive. With minutes ticking off the clock, a 45 yard run by the relentless Graves provided the Hawks great field position in the Catamount zone. Graves worked the ball over the goal line on a 10 yard carry, however the extra point was blocked leaving the Hawks with a 20-20 tie and a call for the Hawks D to step up and shut down the Panther offense quickly. Tasting the chance for victory, the Hawks defense didn’t let Panther Creek move very much, forcing a punt deep in the Panther Creek zone. Corron Boston ran the punt back for the Hawks to the Catamount 40 yard line.

The Hawks offensive line was chomping at the bit to get back on the field to punch holes in the Panther Creek defense. Graves found several openings, coming up with 10 and 5 yard runs to set up a field goal opportunity. One eye on the field, one eye on the clock, Coach Jim Hynus called time out with 2.4 seconds remaining in the game to send out Hohns for the kick. A composed Hohns nailed a 22 yard field goal as time expired sending the Catamount sideline into shock and giving the Hawks a 23-20 victory. Pandemonium exploded throughout Golden Hawks Stadium as the Panther Creek fans slipped into total silence.

This was the Hawks third conference and fourth overall victory. Another game for the record book of “firsts” in the school’s short history. The Hawks are now 3-1 in the Tri-9 Conference and 4-3 overall as they gear up to face the undefeated Fuquay Varina Bengals in Fuquay on Friday night.