Fryman propels Hawks

Hanover linebacker Kenny Fryman's usual duty during Friday night football is to stop the opposition's running backs.

Fryman switched his duties in the second half of last night's game at Cosby. He ran the ball eight times for 41 yards and two touchdowns from the fullback position as the Hawks defeated the Titans, ranked No. 8 in The Times-Dispatch Top 10 Poll, 21-20.

"It's a package we put in two weeks ago," Fryman said. "I got the ball, just kept my feet running and followed my blocks. The holes were there. I just had to keep running."

Fryman's forays through the middle freed up the outside for teammate Dean Cheatham, who had one carry for 1 yard in the first half but finished the game with 107 yards on 13 carries.

"Kenny gets after it. He hits real hard. He opened up the holes big time for me," said Cheatham, who played in the slot before starting back Chris Lee suffered a shoulder injury. "I had to make the move to 'A' back. When Kenny comes in the backfield, we just pound it on the corners and straight up the middle. We just took over physically."

The Hawks (4-3) looked at last night's game as a must win to keep their Division 5 playoff hopes alive. They are the reigning region Division 5 champions. Their three losses, all close, have been to No. 1 Varina, No. 2 Deep Run and No. 7 Highland Springs.

"We played three tough teams down to the wire," Fryman said. "We needed this win. We drove an hour to get here and we're going back winners. It's an awesome feeling."

As stingy as the Hawks are on defense, especially against the run, they couldn't stop Cosby quarterback Fuller Hoepner's passing in the first half. He threw for 131 yards and two touchdowns as the Titans led 13-7 at the break.

Cosby got the ball first and drove 67 yards in less than three minutes. Hoepner connected with Bryce Dillon for the last 41 yards. Dillon reached behind his Hanover defender to make the reception, then raced into the end zone. Stephen Denuel, usually automatic on extra points, missed.

The Hawks responded with Josh Wells throwing 21 yards to Cheatham for a TD early in the second quarter. Rachael Moore kicked the first of three extra points.

Hoepner struck again on the next series, but not before the Titans punted, then recovered the ball after it touched Shreve Rohle. Hoepner passed 19 yards to Garrett Hicks to end the first-half scoring.

Hanover's Bryson Kemler intercepted a Hoepner pass with 6:42 remaining in the third quarter, and that led to Fryman's first TD, a 1-yard run.

The Titans re-took the lead on the next scrimmage play when Terry Williams raced 80 yards for a touchdown.

Hanover then drove 60 yards, all on the ground, for Fryman's second touchdown and Moore's game-winning extra point.

The Titans (5-2) still are in the Division 5 playoff chase along with the Hawks.

"[Hanover] went to the I and started powering the ball, and we didn't do a good job taking that away from them," Cosby coach Pete Mutascio said. "Offensively, I think we killed ourselves a little bit. Penalties at the wrong time. They made some plays, and we didn't."

The Hawks' power running game is working.

"We're trying to go back to the '80s. I think our mentality right now is smash-mouth," Hanover coach Josh Just said. "Our offensive line and offensive coaches won us this game."

C -- Dillon 41 pass from Hoepner (kick failed)

H -- Cheatham 21 pass from Wells (Moore kick)

C -- Hicks 19 pass from Hoepner (Denuel kick)

H -- Fryman 1 run (Moore kick)

C -- Williams 80 run (Denuel kick)

H -- Fryman 2 run (Moore kick)

RUSHING

Hanover: Cheatham 13-107; Wells 12-74; Lee 7-34; Fryman 8-41; Crocker 5-minus 2 Cosby: Hoepner 11-34; Redd 7-14; Williams 10-68; Crawley-Lambert 3-17
PASSING

Hanover: Wells 2-7-35-1. Cosby: Hoepner 9-18-182-1
RECEIVING

Hanover: Cheatham 1-21 yards; Davis 1-14 Cosby: Dillon 3-76; Hicks 3-58; Lusk 2-48; Williams 1-0