Kyle Gallant had a choice to make.
The Hermon head football coach and his Hawks offense were facing a fourth and goal in the second half of Friday night’s game against Wells. Hermon had been leading most of the contest, and was up 15-8 at the time.
But the momentum had been starting to drift toward Wells. The reigning Class D state champs had just scored their first touchdown of the night. And if the visiting Warriors could keep the Hawks out of the endzone, it could turn into a different ballgame.
So what was Gallant going to do? Would he play it safe and try to kick a field goal, or would he roll the dice and look for a more decisive play from his offense?
“I learned a long time ago coaching football that, sometimes you just have to take the risk,” Gallant said after Hermon’s 22-16 win.
He ended up putting the ball in the hands of quarterback Ethan Curtis for that crucial fourth and goal play, and Curtis got the ball to Sam Hopkins for their third touchdown connection of the night.
“And we’re on our home field, we have a chance to actually beat Wells — I’m going to take that risk all day,” Gallant continued. “And I believe in those boys. I believe in those boys to execute when Coach Gallant gets a little crazy and takes a risk. And they did it.”
The Hawks kicked an extra point after that touchdown to go up 22-8 at the time. That gutsy call from the sidelines and the calm execution from Hermon’s offense proved to be the difference in the game.
Wells was able to march down the field to get a second touchdown and two-point conversion, but Hermon’s defense stepped in to preserve that six point lead and finish out with a win.
Gallant praised his team for their resilience and toughness down the stretch.
“It just boils down to the belief and trust that we all have in each other,” he added about the risky playcall that helped keep the Warriors at bay.
The 2-0 Hermon squad will travel to Rockland to face off against Oceanside High School next week. Wells fell to 1-1 and will take on Gardiner next Friday night.
