Hughes erased a 13-point deficit and scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to rally past Roger Bacon, 30-27, in a wild Thursday night Week 3 matchup.
Roger Bacon controlled the first half, getting a pair of touchdown passes from Caleb Nashi to Liam Vargo and a 9-yard touchdown run from Eric Cody to build a 13-0 lead. Hughes got on the board with a safety before Faheem Muhawad scored on a 1-yard run to cut the deficit to 13-10 at halftime.
After a scoreless third quarter, the game took off in the fourth.
Nehemi Engleman scored from a yard out to give Hughes its first lead, 17-13, with 10:53 remaining. Roger Bacon answered when Nashi found Vargo for an 11-yard touchdown to regain a 19-17 advantage with six minutes left.
Hughes responded with the biggest play of the night. Omontae Smith broke loose for an 85-yard touchdown run with 2:46 remaining, putting the Big Red back on top, 23-19. Jabari Smith added a 14-yard touchdown run less than two minutes later to make it 30-19.
Roger Bacon refused to go quietly. Nashi connected with Braxton Butler for a 28-yard touchdown with seven seconds remaining, but Hughes held on for the three-point victory.
The Big Red piled up 241 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 33 carries, averaging 7.3 yards per attempt. Omontae Smith finished with 100 yards and a touchdown on just six carries, Jabari Smith added 81 yards and a score on 10 attempts, and Muhawad rushed for 50 yards and a touchdown.
Nashi completed 11-of-23 passes for 121 yards and three touchdowns for Roger Bacon. Cody carried 28 times for 102 yards and a score, while Vargo contributed on both sides of the ball with five catches for 59 yards and two touchdowns to go along with seven tackles.
Kannen Adams paced the Hughes defense with seven tackles and three tackles for loss. Kenyon McDaniel added two tackles for loss. Miles Harris led Roger Bacon with eight tackles and a tackle for loss.
Hughes finished with 301 total yards, including its 241 on the ground, and overcame two turnovers to complete the comeback.
Hughes improves to 3-0, while Roger Bacon falls to 1-2.
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