9/03/2023
by DJM/OutlookNewsOnline
all photos by Don Juan Moore (OutlookNews Online)
In a historic gridiron moment, the Night Hawks took flight on Saturday, September 2nd, marking the commencement of the nation’s exclusive military transition football program. For the Night Hawks, this day was the culmination of a two-year journey to bring this program to life. Equally, it was a lifelong dream realized for Head Coach Orlando Mitjans, who proudly led his collegiate team onto the field for the first time. But the significance of this day extended far beyond the coaching staff; it was a dream come true for seven military veterans, over 50 National Guardsmen, and more than 20 civilian members of the roster who embraced the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to partake in this extraordinary event.
The Night Hawks wasted no time making their presence felt on the scoreboard. A fumbled opening kickoff return by the Georgia Warhawks was swiftly capitalized upon by the Night Hawks, who recovered the ball on the 1-yard line. Just eight seconds into the game, Runningback James Amaker etched his name in history by punching in the program’s inaugural touchdown with a one-yard rush (PAT failed), propelling Thomas to an early 6-0 lead.
Following a swift three-and-out by the Warhawks, Thomas added another touchdown to their tally. Quarterback Chris Carter dashed for 14 yards and found the end zone (Braxton Crawford – PAT), extending the Night Hawks’ lead to 13-0.
The Night Hawks continued their offensive onslaught early in the second quarter. Chris Carter connected with Hall once more, this time for a 45-yard touchdown pass (Crawford PAT), enlarging the lead to 20-0. As the second half commenced, Thomas shifted their focus to the running game, resulting in another touchdown during their second drive of the half. Emarje Grace galloped 14 yards for the score (Crawford – PAT), solidifying a commanding 27-0 lead.
In the fourth quarter, Carter found Cameron Bailey for a 30-yard touchdown pass (Crawford – PAT), capping off the Night Hawks’ scoring at 34-0. A late touchdown by the Warhawks brought the final score to 34-6.
On the day, the Night Hawks boasted 22 first downs while allowing only 14. They converted 5 of 7 third-down opportunities. Remarkably, Thomas amassed 333 rushing yards while conceding a mere 80 to their opponents, totaling 470 yards of total offense. However, they did have their share of challenges, turning the ball over four times and committing eight penalties.
Individually, quarterback Chris Carter posted a stat line of 5/9 for 128 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, adding 67 yards on the ground from six rushes. Brandon Denmark shouldered the rushing duties with 11 carries for 81 yards. Tremal Hall led the team in receiving with 46 yards, while Jarek Foster topped the charts with two receptions. On the defensive side, Kaliq Jordan led with 6 tackles (3 solo), followed closely by Raheim McBride (3 solo) and Kanirion Jenkins (1 solo) with 5 tackles each.
The Night Hawks will now take their winning momentum on the road for the rest of September, as they prepare to face Point University in West Point, GA, on Saturday, September 9, at Noon ET. This matchup will unfold at Valley High School in Valley, AL.