Hazelwood Central Holds Off Miller Career For Win In Season Opener

HS Football	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Hazelwood Central (1-0)	0	8	0	14	22
Miller Career Academy (0-1)	0	6	2	0	8

ST. LOUIS - The Hazelwood Central Hawks earned themselves an exciting season-opening win, Saturday afternoon, when they defeated Miller Career Academy, 22-8, in high school football game at Gateway STEM High School.

The Hawks were led by their defense, which forced six turnovers, produced four quarterback sacks, delivered a game-clinching defensive touchdown, and held Miller Career to just six first down the whole game.

Junior linebacker Evan Perryman led the way, with 13 tackles, including eight solo stops.

Senior safety Amon Lee also had a big day. He had nine tackles (six solo) and two interceptions, one he returned 50 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter that essentially ended any chance for a comeback by Miller Career.

The Hawks were leading 16-8 at the time of that play, but Lee's pick-six gave the Hawks an edge the Phoenix would not be able to overcome.

Other defensive standouts for Hazelwood Central included junior defensive linemen Jeremiah Hughes, who had four tackles and a fumble recovery, and Jonathan Slater, who had two quarterback sacks.

On offense, it was a pair of seniors that led the way. Running back Maurice Evans rushed for a game-high 88 yards and scored what proved to be the game-winning touchdown on a 15-yard run, which he followed with a two-point conversion run, midway through the fourth quarter.

Wide receiver Alan Bright made what may have been the most exciting play of the day, when he broke loose on a flanker screen up the right sideline, for a 62-yard touchdown that produced the Hawks' first points of the day.

Miller Career actually grabbed the first lead of the day, when junior Corey Mitchell caught a crossing pass, then broke a tackle, and raced upfield for a 37-yard touchdown that gave the Phoenix a 6-0 lead.

After a two-point conversion try failed and a kickoff went unfielded for a touchback, Bright made his back-to-back scoring plays to give the Hawks the lead.

Central held that edge until midway through the third quarter, when a botched snap turned into a safety for the Miller Career defense, which tied the score at 8.

The game stayed that way until the fourth, when Evans made his two scoring runs that gave the Hawks the lead for good.

Hazelwood Central (1-0) will host its own home opener on Friday, September 6, against Lafayette. The Lancers (1-0) won their own season opener last Thursday against Parkway North.

Kickoff for this Friday's game at Hazelwood Central is set for 6 p.m.

2024 Hazelwood Central Hawks Football Schedule
Sept. 6 vs. Lafayette -- 6 pm
Sept. 13 at Eureka -- 7 pm
Sept. 19 vs. Lindbergh -- 6 pm
Sept. 27 at Marquette -- 6:30 pm
Oct. 4 at Hazelwood West -- 6 pm
Oct. 11 vs. Pattonville -- 6 pm
Oct. 18 at Hazelwood East -- 6 pm
Oct. 24 vs. Kirkwood -- 6 pm