Hopgood a game-changer on defense for Hawks

By Matt Metcalf
Posted 12/8/15

Sometimes defensive players fly under the radar while the players scoring offensive touchdowns are in the limelight.

But on Saturday, there was no missing Hendricken’s Andrew Hopgood in the …

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Hopgood a game-changer on defense for Hawks

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Sometimes defensive players fly under the radar while the players scoring offensive touchdowns are in the limelight.

But on Saturday, there was no missing Hendricken’s Andrew Hopgood in the secondary.

The Hawks’ junior defensive back had three interceptions – one apiece in the second, third and fourth quarters – to help secure a 24-20 win for Hendricken in the Division I Super Bowl.

With the Rams facing fourth-and-long in the final minute of the game, Hopgood also perfectly defended a deep pass down the right sideline that was knocked away inside the 10-yard line. That pass by Jace Pena was intended for Ellijah McLean and it would’ve given La Salle a first down and a chance to win the game.

But, fortunately for the Hawks, Hopgood came up big one more time.

“We just ran what the coaches called and everyone did their job,” Hopgood said of the last play that iced the win. “It just worked out in our favor.”

Hopgood had La Salle’s number this year. He simply had his biggest games against Hendricken’s biggest rival.

During the regular season, Hopgood intercepted Pena twice in a 53-23 blowout win for the Hawks.

He would tack on two more against Pena on Saturday, as well as one on a throw from C.J. Waite on a fourth-and-5 late in the fourth quarter.

Hopgood totaled five interceptions against the Rams in two games, while the Rams threw for just two touchdowns.

“I’m just in the right place at the right time, I guess,” Hopgood said of having the Rams’ number this season. “It goes to coaching. It was being there at the right time and reading. That’s all it is.”

“He’s had two huge games against them, and he’s kind of an unsung hero for us,” Hendricken head coach Keith Croft said. “Some of those interceptions may not have been in key spots, but you don’t realize that they’re 20-, 30-yard plays because they would have to punt. They were huge.”

The Hawks’ defense had its hands full going into the title game, as the Rams obtained a plethora of offensive weapons. Although their starting running back, Kyron Lopes, was out with an injury, Pena, Waite and McLean were all capable of breaking big plays. But Hendricken’s preparation paid dividends once again.

“We prepared well,” Hopgood said. “They obviously lost Kyron, who is a great back, but it didn’t change our game plan all that much. We knew what they were going to run, it just came down to who was going to play better, and today, I think we played better.”

The three-sport athlete will move on to hockey shortly, but there’s no question that he made his imprint for the Hawks on the gridiron this fall. And the Hawks will be happy to bring him back next year, not only on defense, but as a pass-catcher and occasional running back on offense, as they search for a seventh straight championship.

“He’s only a junior, so we’re really excited about having him back next year,” Croft said.

“I love that kid,” Hendricken tight end Trevor Lawton said of Hopgood. “Without him, this team wouldn’t be the same. He’ll do anything, he’ll block, he’ll catch and he won’t say a word about it. Without him, this team does not run.”

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