ATLANTA — East Hall football went down guns blazing on Friday night.
After spending the 2017 season torching defense after defense, the Vikings did so again on Friday -- they simply needed more stops on defense.
East Hall fell to Westminster 59-57 in the second round of the Class AAA playoffs, watching their deepest postseason run since 1993 come to an end in Atlanta.
The fourth-seeded Vikings (7-5) fell behind 21-7 in the first quarter but stormed back to knot the contest at 21-21 -- still in the first quarter. East Hall also trailed by two touchdowns in the second quarter and 10 points in the third but kept ripping off answers to pull as close as 52-50 in the third and 59-57 with 4:18 remaining. But Westminster found just enough defense to compliment its own dominant ground game and hold on for the win.
Joe Egan scored on five touchdown runs -- including all of the Wildcats' second half TDs to help the hosts keep their heads above water.
Thanks to Austin Parker and the Vikings offense, Westminster needed every single point. The senior quarterback connected on six toudown passes and ran for a score to keep the pressure on throughout. Austin Brock hauled in two touchdowns, while Cambren Harrison caught two and ran for another. Tripp Rider and Sedrion Morse also caught touchdown passes.
Westminster did intercept three passes, including one for a touchdown in the first quarter, as the two squads ran up an astounding seven combined touchdowns during the period.
The Wildcats also added a 44-yard field goal in the second quarter to help make the difference.
