Prep football: Natomas’ dynamic duo helps cement a shot at a league title
Perseverance is without a doubt one of the best character traits a team can have. Without it, they wouldn’t be able to compete at their best when the odds are against them. And that’s exactly what the Natomas High School football team did when they walked onto Foothill’s field Friday with a shot at the Greater Sacramento League title on the line.
Playing on the road for a league title is never an ideal situation, especially when it’s also homecoming. The stands were filled, the crowd noise was booming and the Foothill Mustangs took the field with confidence. There was even a parade of cars and students circling the field at halftime.
No problem. The Natomas Nighthawks didn’t let any of the outside noise get to them as they took a 14-7 win. They were locked in on nothing but what was going on in between the lines. It’s a mindset that has helped them along the way throughout this entire season.
“We talked about adversity all week,” said head coach Spencer Hagan. “I told them we were going to face adversity this whole game, and we did. And the guys just kept overcoming it every single time. So that’s what I’m really proud of with them.”
When people think of adversity in sports, they typically picture a team coming back from a major deficit to win the big game. But, Natomas was never actually behind in this game for even a second. Sometimes just holding onto your lead can be all the adversity you need.
The Nighthawks were the first team to strike, when junior Jamir Williams caught a touchdown pass from senior Corey Brown in the first quarter. They held onto that lead until Foothill senior Tyreece Bramwell caught a deep touchdown from junior Xiavior Smith with just eight seconds remaining in the first half. The two were deadlocked at seven apiece until Natomas senior Mekhei Byrd caught the game-winning touchdown from junior Michael Hendricks late in the fourth quarter.
“We have some of the best athletes in Sacramento,” said Hagan. “We just try to utilize them. Like Byrd and Mike, they just played so great I’m so proud of them.
The game-winning touchdown wouldn’t be the only time the Nighthawks’ dynamic duo would make a play for their team. Not only do the pair make plays on the offensive side of the ball rotating at both wide receiver and running back, but they also share the same side of the field on defense with Hendricks as a lockdown corner and Byrd aggressively roaming above at safety.
The duo locked down the defensive left the entire game with blanket coverage and swarmed to the ball carrier to bring him down. In the third quarter, Hendricks forced two turnovers with an interception and more impressively by snatching the ball out of the Foothill running back’s hands like a baton pass in a relay race. Byrd also snagged an interception, which he did immediately after scoring the game-winning touchdown. The turnover took the air out of the Foothill crowd and essentially sealed the victory for Natomas.
The pair have chemistry like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. They can trust each other on both sides of the ball and play worry-free because they know the other will do his job and back him up if help is needed. But even with talent and faith in their teammates, the Nighthawks are still focused on what lies ahead.
“The league championship has always been a goal,” said Byrd. “But we still got two more weeks left, it ain’t over. We gotta seal the deal and go deep into the playoffs.”