The regular season meeting between Harrisburg and Westran wasn’t decided until the final minute of the game, where the Hornets escaped with a two-point win.  

However, the fourth quarter of Friday’s rematch was free of suspense as Harrisburg scored on all five first-half possessions and defeated No. 10 Westran 46-8 in the district semifinal.

“We were a lot more motivated coming out this time and we wanted it,” lineman Brayton Stephenson said.

“We worked hard all week, and had a much more focused week. We came together as a team to get the win.”

Wyatt Robinson carried the ball eight times for 135 yards on the Bulldogs' first two drives as Harrisburg took a 16-0 lead seven minutes into the game.

“We blocked well and once Wyatt got to the secondary, he does a great job of making cuts, making people miss and breaking plays out,” Stephenson said.

Robinson scored the first touchdown on a 47-yard run. Quarterback Tanner Lanes finished the second drive with 15 hard-earned yards on the ground for a score.

Defensively, Harrisburg forced a three-and-out on the first drive. Westran had great field position on its second possession, but gained just seven yards before turning the ball over on downs at the Harrisburg 43-yard line.

“We were just trying to key their linemen and they took us to where the ball was going and we just tried to team tackle,” Stephenson said.

Harrisburg head coach Steve Hopkins said that film study prepared Harrisburg to defend the run in the rematch.

“We showed them the video from the first game, and we watched all of the smoke and mirrors in the backfield… but key your linemen, trust your keys, and they did.

“We think we have good linemen and good linebackers, but they have to do their job, they have to trust their keys, and they did. And then our edge people, our defensive backs became part of the run game, and they have to against that kid, against those two kids.”

After the fourth-down stop, Harrisburg moved the ball through the air to take a 24-0 lead with a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter.

After not attempting a pass on the first two drives, Lanes completed three passes for 58 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown throw to Anthony Alicea on fourth down.

Jace Carr caught two passes for 41 yards on the drive and had his second 2-point catch of the evening after Alicea’s score.

Hopkins said that his team had early success by installing some offensive concepts that the Bulldogs had attempted in the past and abandoned.

“We did some things that we’ve tried to do for two years and just haven’t been able to do,” Hopkins said. “Our linemen had to grow up. We put some things in this week and told them, look, these are some new things that we’re asking you to do.

“And they did them very, very, well in the beginning.”

The Hornets made some adjustments, and Harrisburg went back to some of its traditional plays. But by the time Westran adjusted, the Bulldogs had built a sizeable lead.

Robinson, the Lewis and Clark Conference Offensive Player of the Year, finished with over 200 rushing yards. He scored twice on the ground and gave Harrisburg a 32-8 lead with a catch on a screen pass that went 55 yards to the endzone.

“Wyatt has matured to where he has just enough patience,” Hopkins said.  

“We were asking him to run some plays he hasn’t run since early last year when we kind of gave up on them, and they require patience.

“The long screen pass, he was patient and set up the block by Brayton Stephenson so it was a big play. It already would have been a great play but it became a touchdown because he had a little patience. That comes from experience and that comes from trusting the scheme and who we’re blocking.”

Alicea caught a three-yard touchdown pass to put the Bulldogs up 38-8 with 15 seconds left in the half. Alicea gave Harrisburg the ball at midfield with an interception before making his second touchdown grab.

“I just read my keys and saw the ball go up, and I took advantage of it,” he said about the pick.

Harrisburg’s only second half touchdown was also set up by a turnover. Tanner Fike forced a fumble with a hit on the Westran quarterback. Gavin Curtis picked up the ball and returned it to the 8-yard line. Robinson carried it in on the next play.

Kevin Raines also forced a turnover with an interception near midfield in the fourth quarter.

In the district final, Harrisburg will face Marceline, who defeated Fayette 55-20 on Friday.

The Bulldogs turned the ball over seven times in a 56-8 loss to the No. 6 Tigers just one week ago.

“We really need to build on the positives we saw tonight and correct some things,” Hopkins said.

He also pointed out that the Bulldogs will have some players available who did not play in the regular season match.

 “This was the first game that we’ve had our full wide receiver compliment since the second game of the year,” Hopkins said. “It makes us much harder to defend and it makes us a much better defense, because all of those kids turn around and play defense as well.”