Late Surge Puts Hamilton Over the Top
By: Matthew Tritten
Updated: November 24, 2012
(ST. LOUIS, Mo.) Early in the Class 1 State Championship, it looked like Hamilton might be in for a long day after giving up two early scores, but the Hornets fought back and turned the tables on Valle Catholic en route to a 60-34 win.
Hamilton scored the final 27 points of the game, including a stretch of 21 in just 38 seconds in the fourth quarter.
Kellen Overstreet scored 4 touchdowns, 2 receiving and 2 rushing, during the contest. He led the Hornets with 167 yards on 5 receptions and picked up 129 rush yards on 12 carries.
The Warriors held a 14-0 lead after the first quarter, and 21-7 midway through the second quarter. Hamilton outscored Valle Catholic 26-7 over the next 11:42 to take a 33-28 lead.
The Hornet defense surrendered one more touchdown before taking a stranglehold on the game.
Derrick Hughes rushed into the end zone from 5 yards out to push Hamilton ahead by one.
After a Valle Catholic turnover on downs, Drew Finch hit Overstreet for a 76-yard score, and he wasn't done.
Overstreet intercepted Nolan Wood on the first play of the ensuing drive, leading to a 62-yard touchdown run by Derrick Hughes to put Hamilton ahead 53-34.
After another kickoff, Wood was picked off again, this time by Keithan Litton. Litton returned the interception 44 yards for the final touchdown of the game.
Hughes led the Hornets in rushing picking up 215 yards and 3 touchdowns on 31 carries.
Finch threw just 8 passes, but completed 7 of them for 182 yards and two scores.
The victory gives Hamilton its third state title in the last four seasons.
