Hanover’s great big goose egg in the win column vs. Highland Springs is gone. Finally. Emphatically. The Hawks’ celebration after defeating the Springers 27-8 last night at Highland Springs rivaled their celebration after winning the Central Region Division 5 title for the second time in three years last November.

Was last night’s victory as important?

“Yes. Yes,” said Hanover coach Josh Just. “This is a good football program, but people say we can’t play against speed and couldn’t beat the elite teams. Highland Springs is an elite team. We showed we belong. We want to play and beat everybody on our schedule.”

The Hawks, ranked No. 3 in The Times-Dispatch Top 10, were 0-7 against the fifth-ranked Springers before last night. The past two meetings Hanover had played well enough to win, but Highland Springs won on the scoreboard.

“It’s a big milestone, but that celebration is all you’re going to see,” Hanover running back Deane Cheatham said. “We’ve set our goals as high as we can go. It’s a week-to-week process.”

Cheatham, an All-Metro first-teamer last year, rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. He also caught a 38-yard TD pass from quarterback Sam Rogers, who rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns.

Punters Oscar Portillo (Highland Springs) and Andrew Knizner and both defenses were the stars in the first quarter. Highland Springs lost a fumble. So did
Cheatham, who was stretching for the goal line.

“Those guys got mad and said it wasn’t going to happen again,” Just said. “I can’t remember the last time he fumbled.”

The Springers (0-1, 3-1) proceeded to keep the ball more than 11 minutes after starting at their 2-yard line, but quarterback D.J. Johnson fumbled on fourth down, and Hanover recovered at the 50.

Three plays later, Rogers scored from the 5. His 43-yard run on the first play set up the TD. The Hawks (1-0, 4-0) led 7-0 at halftime.

“We got a good chewing out at halftime,” Cheatham said. “We put it on them pretty good in the second half. We were much more physical.”

Hanover’s K.J. Weatherspoon intercepted Johnson twice in the second half, although batting one down would have given the Hawks better field position. The
Hawks started possessions in the second half at Highland Springs’ 26, 35, 39 and 30 yard lines.

“The defense gave us opportunities in the second half, and we showed what we could do,” Rogers said.

Highland Springs had 14 yards of offense in the second half and didn’t run a play from scrimmage in the fourth quarter. The Springers’ touchdown was Tareek Folsom’s 27-yard interception return when he sniffed out a screen pass and picked it off.

Varina is next on the Hawks’ schedule. Hanover is 0-7 against the Blue Devils.

“It was a huge step getting this milestone and checking it off the list,” Rogers said. “Now we can look to Varina next week. Every game is the most important game for us.”

Arthur Utley is a staff writer for the Richmond Times Dispatch.

Hanover…......................... 0 7 12 8 — 27
Highland Springs ..............0 0 0 8 — 8
H – Rogers 5 run (Palmen kick)
H – Cheatham 14 run (kick failed)
H – Cheatham 38 pass from Rogers (kick failed)
HS – Folsom 27 INT return (Carter pass from Johnson)
H – Rogers 5 run (Cheatham run)

RUSHING
Hanover – Cheatham 23 carries 167
yards; Rogers 19-95, Brooks 2-11. Highland
Springs – Young 8-25, Thompson 6-14, Johnson
8-minus 15, Wilkerson 2-minus 4, Cherry
2-3, Temple 2-7, Carter 2-14.

PASSING
Hanover – Rogers 6 completions 12 attempts
82 yards 1 interceptions. Highland
Springs – Johnson 6-16-40-2.

RECEIVING
Hanover – Underdown 2 receptions 27
yards; Cheatham 1-38, Brooks 1-7, Knizner
1-10, Morris 1-0. Highland Springs – Carter
2-16, Folsom 2-13, Temple 1-7, Stubblefield 1-4