AHOSKIE – Second year Hertford County High School Head Football Coach Scott Privott believes if you win the close games, the big ones follow.

If that mantra is true, it bodes well for the Bears, who edged out their third straight opponent here last night. Hertford County held on for a 21-20 victory over visiting Nash Central High School to secure win number three.

Those three wins, however, have come by two missed extra points (Gates County, Nash Central) and a late rally over rival Bertie.

Last night the Bears broke out of a 14-all tie with a fourth quarter score and then held on against Nash Central when the visiting Bulldogs missed an extra point attempt that would have tied the game with 2:50 to play.

The Bears led 14-0 until late in the first half. The first score came on the Bears’ first possession when they drove 59 yards on nine plays to take the early lead.

Senior quarterback Petey Boone had a trio of big plays on the drive. He scampered for a 21-yard gain and then had a 10-yard pass completion to Devin Vaughan.

Boone recorded the touchdown when he found Vaughan on a 25-yard scoring pass with 5:04 to play in the first quarter. Senior place kicker Brandon Warren added the conversion and the Bears led 7-0.

After forcing a punt, the Bears were driving for another score when Boone was picked off in the endzone. Nash Central couldn’t do anything with the turnover, however, and punted the ball away.

Hertford County again set sail on a solid drive. Boone had a 15-yard scamper during a six-play drive while Aaron Thomas also ran for a gain of 15 yards.

Boone and Vaughan then connected with their second score of the night, this time on a 32-yard pass completion with 5:53 to play in the second quarter. Warren was again true with the point after and the Bears held a 14-0 lead.

The Bulldogs weren’t done, however, as they roared back to get a score before the intermission. Nash Central drove 80 yards on 11 plays to reach the endzone for the first time. Greg Arrington had a huge 16-yard gain for the Bulldogs and quarterback Jalen Hendricks also had a key run of 19 yards.

Hendricks capped the drive on a two-yard score and kicker Zach Conner added the conversion to make it 14-7 with 1:40 to play in the first half.

The Bulldogs made their first possession in the third quarter count as they drove 71 yards on 16 plays. Arrington capped the drive with a 10-yard run and Conner added the conversion as Nash Central drew even with the Bears at 14-all with 2:39 to play in the third period.

After a Hertford County turnover, it appeared Nash Central was driving to take the lead. The Bulldogs moved to the 27-yardline of the Bears, but junior defensive back Stafone Dickerson stepped in front of a Hendricks pass and gave the Bears a “pick six” with 9:02 remaining in the game on an 85-yard return.

Warren then provided what proved to be the difference maker and the Bears led 21-14.

Nash Central found the endzone one more time thanks to a key roughing the kicker penalty against Hertford County with 6:25 to play. The visitors used that miscue to keep the drive alive and Arrington eventually scored on a one-yard plunge.

The conversion kick, however, sailed wide left and the Bears held on to a one-point advantage (21-20) with 2:50 remaining.

Nash Central attempted an onsides kick, but the Bears recovered and were able to run the remaining time off the clock and seal their third straight win.

Hertford County (3-0) will take to the road for the first time next week when they travel to Rocky Mount to meet the Gryphons.

(By Billy Harrell, Senior Sports Writer)