Football state championship notebook: Hoofnagle makes the most of first football reception

When Northwestern junior offensive lineman Austin Hoofnagle broke his eye socket against Irmo back in September, it seemed like his season was finished.

So when Hoofnagle was cleared to play for the state championship game, Northwestern coaches decided to add a new formation to the Trojan offense that would feature the big junior as a blocking tight end. With a huge lead over Lexington on Saturday in the 4A Division II final, Northwestern coach Kyle Richardson called “Red.”

Wearing the No. 88 jersey instead of his usual No. 50, Hoofnagle leaked away from the line, ran straight to the end zone and caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Gage Moloney with about 8 minutes left. Northwestern’s sideline went nuts, especially considering the formation that the Trojan coaches added specifically called for Moloney to not throw the ball to Hoofnagle, especially considering his recovering eye socket.

“He was really a decoy,” said Richardson. “We have not thrown him a pass in practice, in pregame, nothing. That is his first pass... ever.”

When Hoofnagle went out, tight end Alex Parker switched to tackle to take his injured teammate’s spot, switching his jersey. Hoofnagle kept his No. 50, but also had the No. 88 shirt stashed on the sideline in case his package of plays was called Saturday. With the game all but decided by halftime, Hoofnagle had the 88 ready in the second half.

“A great feeling, a great feeling,” he said after the game, grinning.

The play was a perfect summation of a perfect evening for Northwestern. And a perfect way for Hoofnagle to conclude an injury-hit 11th grade season.

“Of course ‘Hoof’ wants to move to full-time wide receiver now,” Richardson said.

Ruff throws first and only interception of the year

Greg Ruff threw 351 passes this season without an interception, a startling stat that alternately impressed and likely distracted.

But Midland Valley’s Marcus Abney made a clever break on Ruff’s 352nd pass attempt, a screen toward the sideline. Abney jumped in front of the intended receiver, causing Ruff to pause and pump-fake. He then tried to wedge the ball into the receiver but Abney quickly rebounded and picked off the pass near the Mustangs’ side of the field.

“Aww man, you had to bring that up, didn’t you?” Ruff said when asked after the game about the pick.

Ruff finished the year with 36 touchdown passes and just the lone interception, easily the best season a South Pointe quarterback has had.

“A guy made a great play and that was kind of a freak interception,” said South Pointe offensive coordinator Jason McManus. “It happens; it’s part of football.”

South Pointe defensive shutout

The Stallions’ 35-0 shutout of Midland Valley was the first 3A championship game goose egg since 1996, when Berkeley blanked Darlington 21-0.

Howard offered by Western Carolina

Jerry Howard ran for 148 yards and a touchdown during the Trojans’ win over Lexington Saturday, and caught a third touchdown pass to cap off a great four-game playoff run for the powerful junior running back. His weekend got better on Sunday when he Tweeted the news that Western Carolina had extended him a scholarship offer, his first.

Howard ran for 598 yards and eight touchdowns in four postseason games. He did that on just 53 carries, an average of more than 11 yards per attempt. The 6-foot, 210-pound power runner finished 2015 with 1,570 yards and 19 touchdowns.

He returns next season, along with junior QB Gage Moloney and the team’s two leading receivers, sophomore Jordan Starkes and freshman Jamario Holley. Northwestern will lose defensive firepower but the returning offensive contributors make it likely that the Trojans start 2016 in pretty high statewide regard.

Three players not done yet

Three players that saw action in Saturday’s state championship games still have another high school football game to play this week, the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. Northwestern’s Trae’von Hinton and Miles Corpening - who returned an interception for a touchdown against Lexington - and South Pointe’s Chris Smith will represent South Carolina in Spartanburg this week.

This story was originally published December 13, 2015 at 5:42 PM with the headline "Football state championship notebook: Hoofnagle makes the most of first football reception."