Augustine's fourth-quarter heroics not enough for Harper

Twenty-two Harper sophomores might have put on there home blue jerseys for the last time on Saturday afternooon in Palatine.

In what Hawks coach Eric Waldstein called "a must-win game" earlier in the week for the Hawks to have a good chance of hosting a home playoff game in two weeks, Joliet Junior College was able to hang on to a 13-7 Midwest Football Conference victory.

After a scoreless first quarter the Wolves (5-3) took a 6-0 lead when quarterback Chris Walley scored on a 1-yard run. After a Jason Owens extra point, the Wolves took a 7-0 lead into the locker room.

About midway through the third quarter, Wolves place kicker Jason Owens had a chance to put Joliet up 10. But his 28-yard field goal attempt clanged off of the left upright and was no good keeping the Hawks within a touchdown.

But the Wolves where not done putting pressure on the Hawks' defense, as Walley was able to hook up with Justin Vonder Haar for a 25-yard touchdown strike. The Owens extra point was no good, and Harper trailed 13-0 with a quarter and a half to play.

Then the game took a strange turn. With Hawks backup QB Cam Kinley out for the season with a torn muscle in his shoulder, and with bb-sized hail falling, 6-foot-5 South Dakota transfer Stuart Augustine entered the game in relief of starter Pat Czerwiec with 22 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The redshirt was able to move the Hawks' offense up and down the field on several drives, but the Hawks (2-5) weren't able to put points on the board.

That changed with 7:30 left, when Augustine was able to find wide receiver Dello Davis for a 12-yard touchdown. A Keith Wilson extra point cut the Hawks' deficit to 6.

"I am thankful for for what I have" Augustine said of coach Eric Waldstein's decision to put him in the contest.

"I did not make throws over 20 or 30 yards," Augustine said about the scoring drive. "It was really a tribute to the O-line."

But that's as close as the Hawks got. The Wolves intercepted Augustine with 45 seconds remaining to seal the Hawks' fate.

"Stu sees everything a thousand miles an hour (in practice)" said Waldstein of Augustine's success. "We figured today we needed something. He is either going to make me look like the smartest coach or the dumbest."

The Hawks travel to 18th-ranked Grand Rapids next weekend in what might be a preview of an eventual first-round playoff meeting.

"If I get my opportunity, great," said Augustine. "If I do not, I do not."