Douglas comeback falls short versus Hug

Douglas' Cale Kynett goes after the Hug quarterback Mike Martin Friday night at Keith Roman Field in Minden.

Douglas' Cale Kynett goes after the Hug quarterback Mike Martin Friday night at Keith Roman Field in Minden.

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MINDEN — Hug scored two touchdowns and came up with three defensive stops in the red zone Friday night during the first half and then the undefeated Hawks held on for a 20-14 victory against Douglas.

Douglas (1-3) rallied from a 14-0 halftime deficit and took Hug (4-0) down to the wire in the non-league game at Keith Roman Field.

Sam Melhus shook loose for a 66-yard touchdown run on the opening play from scrimmage in the third quarter and Nick Abreu scored on an 87-yard kick return at the end of the period as the Tigers pulled to within 20-14.

Melhus returned the second half kickoff 20 yards to the 34 and then took a handoff on a sweep left and cut back behind a Cale Kynett block on his way to the 66-yard touchdown run. Melhus rushed for 102 yards on two carries in the game.

Treci Blanton scored from 1 yards out on a fourth-and-goal play to push Hug’s lead to 20-7 with 18.6 seconds left in the third quarter. Abreu took the ensuing kickoff all the way for a touchdown to put the Tigers back within reach.

Hug took the game’s opening kickoff and drove 48 yards on eight plays, capped by Roosevelt Calhoun’s 1-yard run. Quarterback Dekembe Montgomery scored on a 57-yard run in the second quarter to give the Hawks a 14-0 lead.

Even though Douglas had the ball in Hug territory on each of its first half possessions — including three possessions in the red zone — the Tigers were unable to score. One of those opportunities ended when Trey Williams intercepted a pass in the end zone.