Harper holds on to top Brooks

Updated: September 17, 2011 9:18PM

Harper and Brooks, the top two teams in the Heartland conference locked horns in a thriller Saturday at Stagg.

The young Eagles gave them all they could handle but in the end, Harper prevailed with a 24-21 victory.

Brooks struck first on a 39-yard run by quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw with 9:20 remaining in the first quarter. Harper resonded with a three-play, 80-yard drive with Lorenzo Hubert scoring on a third and nine with 8:07 remaining in the second quarter to give Harper a 12-7 lead. A 26-yard touchdown from Dennis Barnes pushed the lead to 18-7 at halftime.

Brooks would not go away as its cut into the lead with 72-yard run by Cleveland Clark with 10:55 remaining in the third quarter as the lead trimmed to 18-14.

Once again the call was answered by Harper with 67-yard run from quarterback Kewane Pipkins with 8:44 remaing in the fourth quarter as the Cardinals got some more breathing room 24-14.

Bradshaw scored his second touchdown for the Eagles with 3:10 on the clock going 26 yards on a broken play for the game’s final score. Brooks did get one final shot after forcing a punt and taking over on the Harper 32-yard line, but the defense held to end the game.

“Give them credit they came ready to play and took it to us,” said Harper coach Marris Carroll. “They are a up and coming program and will be a force to be recon with down the line we just kept out composure and pulled it out.”

Pipkins was 6 of 8 for 157 yards and two touchdowns. he also had eight carries for 87 yards a touchdown. Hubert had eight carries for 128 yards and one touchdown.

“When a team like that gives you a chance, you got to take advantage of it,” said Brooks coach James Brown. “It’s all about toughness.”

Bradshaw had 10 carries for 138 and two touchdowns and Clark gained 117 yards on 12 carries and one touchdown.

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