Photos by Jim Marczesky Heathwood Hall's Jack Moorman runs for a touchdown. Moorman had four catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns against Wilson Hall. Mac Whalen threw for 168 yards and three touchdowns, and the Heathwood Hall defense completed a huge goal line stand with less than a minute left to defeat Wilson Hall 21- 16 on Friday, September 26.

The Highlanders (4- 1) and the Barons (4- 2) played the game in a continuous drizzle, which kept the play calling tight and the score low. Neither team scored in the first quarter, seemingly content to play a field position game, until Whalen found Jack Moorman for a 51- yard completion down the right side. Heathwood was able to get to the Wilson Hall five- yard line, but the drive stalled and the Barons took over on downs.

A little more than four minutes into the second quarter, Heathwood found their rhythm on offense. Whalen completed five consecutive passes, the last to Moorman for a five- yard touchdown and a 7- 0 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the half.

Morgan Whalen tries to shed a Wilson Hall defender. After an exchange of punts, the Barons drove 24 yards in less than a minute to get into field goal range. Jordan Cannon then drove a 42- yard kick through the uprights as time expired. Wilson Hall trailed 7- 3, but got the ball to begin the second half.

On their second drive of the second half, the Barons scored their first touchdown on the legs of senior Ricky Crum, who ran for 50 of the 78 yards on the drive. Cannon missed the extra point, though, and so the Barons led only 9- 7. Heathwood responded with a 67- yard drive of their own behind Whalen, who ran for 26 and threw for 41, the last 18 of which went to Moorman again, and the Highlanders led 14- 9 after the extra point.

After a Wilson Hall punt, Heathwood marched down the field for another touchdown, this one a five- yard pass from Whalen to Davis Ray.

With just under 10 minutes to go, Heathwood was up 21- 9. But behind Crum and backup quarterback Josh Glen, in for the second week while starter Thomas White is out with an injury, the Barons went 50 yards in 11 plays. The final 10 yards came when Glen hit Chris Sharp for a touchdown. With 5:30 to go, Heathwood led only 21- 16.

After forcing a Highlander punt, Wilson Hall drove from their own 28 to the Heathwood five in nine plays, including a crucial 18- yard pickup on fourth down by Sharp. The Barons seemed content to let the clock run as they were in a goal- to- go situation, not wanting to leave the Highlanders with any time on the clock. But the Heathwood defense picked up the intensity, catching Glen for a five- yard loss on second down, and, after the final Baron timeout, forcing two incompletions to seal the victory.

Mac Whalen also led the Highlanders with 83 yards rushing. Crum ran for 100 yards, and Glen passed for 128.

Heathwood plays next week at Augusta Christian, while Wilson Hall hosts Thomas Sumter for their Homecoming.