Archie Williams High achieved a significant milestone by clinching their sixth victory of the season, defeating Piner 35-28 on Friday night. The win not only boosts their record to 6-4 but also positions them favorably for the upcoming North Coast Section playoffs.
In a thrilling finish, Mani Mosher broke through the defensive line and sprinted approximately 75 yards for a touchdown with just three minutes remaining, giving the Peregrine Falcons a critical lead. Following Mosher”s score, Piner managed to secure a first down on their next possession. However, Eben McConnell intercepted a pass near midfield, effectively sealing the victory for Archie Williams.
The Falcons” success in this game allowed them to surpass several teams with five wins, increasing their chances of making the postseason for the first time since 2021. The North Coast Section brackets are set to be released on Sunday.
Head coach Anthony Jackson acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the playoff race, emphasizing the importance of this win. “That”s what everybody”s been saying but you never know,” Jackson stated. “We were one of the last teams out last year but six wins as opposed to four is a big difference.”
Piner was the first to score, but the Falcons quickly responded with a touchdown pass from Ronan Foley to Ates Hurd, tying the game. Foley then put Archie Williams ahead with a touchdown run. The teams went into halftime tied at 14-14, and Piner kept the pressure on, equalizing again at 28-28 in the fourth quarter.
Hurd”s performance was particularly noteworthy, as he scored a second touchdown during the second half. Jackson praised him, saying, “(Hurd) was a matchup problem. He had several big catches to keep drives going and scored for us. That long touchdown he had kept us in the driver”s seat. … We were never down because of the plays that he made.”
In addition to the offensive highlights, Archie Williams also scored on a kickoff return by Nate Ryan, while Rocko Canning-Smith contributed defensively with two sacks during the game.
