HAMBURG – In May of 1985, Bruce Springsteen released “Glory Days,” a song lamenting sentimental, middle-aged journeys into the past. Later that same year, the Hamburg Hawks would earn a District III playoff berth for the first time. The Hawk’s finally caught some glory on Friday night, after a 36-year wait.
“It means a lot. I’m almost crying right now, I’m so happy.” Hamburg senior Mitchell Watt had a look of relief as he spoke after Hamburg’s 31-27 victory over visiting Bermudian Springs Friday night, the first District III playoff win in school history.
Watt was relieved because he knew the outcome could have been very different.
After scoring 17 unanswered points to lead 17-7 at the half, the Hawks (7-3), came out of the locker room ready to put the game away, and after a 23-yard pickup by running back Pierce Mason on the first play of the second half, it looked as though they would do just that.
However, all that would change in the blink of an eye.
Bermudian Springs defensive back Ethan Beachy scooped up a Watt fumble, on the next play from scrimmage, for a 72-yard touchdown, cutting the Hawk lead to 3.
On the first play of the ensuing possession, Watt couldn’t get a grip on Xander Menapace’s handoff, and the fumble was recovered by the Eagles, who would score seven plays later to take the lead 21-17 halfway through the third quarter.
“My head was kind of down, but I knew I had to keep going,” said Watt. “Whenever I make a mistake, I know I need to make up for it.”
It was evident that Watt’s individual effort raised the play of his teammates for the rest of the game. Watt carried the ball 5 times for 24 yards and the go-ahead score on Hamburg’s next possession. He also leads Hamburg’s pass rush as an interior lineman, helping the Hawks record 10 sacks on the night.
“He’s been very reliable all year. You can put him anywhere on the field and he knows what to do,” said Hamburg coach Jeff Chillot. “He gets mad about things, but he doesn’t let it bother him, it’s always ‘next play’ and I think he thought of that himself tonight.”
Menapace would end the game with 115 yards passing and two touchdowns, and senior tailback Diohnny Ruiz would become Hamburg’s single-season rushing yardage record holder with a 47-yard sprint touchdown sprint in the fourth quarter. Pierce Mason also added 161 yards of total offense for the Hawks.
What shouldn’t be forgotten on this historic night for Hamburg is that it took everyone’s best effort to earn this much-anticipated victory. That fact was not lost on their coach.
“When we met at the 50-yard line there at the end, I had the team turn around and look at the scoreboard. ‘ Just look and see what you just did,’ ” said Chillot. “Because that memory and that vision will never leave you.”
So, even though the singer in Springsteen’s song hopes that he doesn’t end up reminiscing at the end of the bar, he knows he “probably will.” What the Boss may have missed, however, is that in order to reminisce successfully, you have to have something to reminisce about.
For the Hamburg Hawks, these are “Glory Days.”
