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AHOSKIE – The last time Bertie defeated Herford County in a varsity football game, the current day Falcons either weren’t born or were wearing diapers.

That streak ended here Friday night.

Quarterback Tayvien Ward scored on a 71-yard scramble with 3:28 remaining as Bertie snapped a 17-year losing streak by beating the rival Bears, 28-21.

Bertie’s last win in this long-standing series was a 34-3 victory on Nov. 2, 2007 at Roy Bond Stadium.

Friday’s win marked another first for the Falcons as it was their first victory of the season after an 0-2 start.

Meanwhile, Hertford County lost its second straight game and fell to 1-2 overall.

Trailing 21-20 late in the fourth quarter, it appeared that Hertford County would continue their dominance against their non-conference rivals. However, Ward had other ideas in mind.

Facing a 2^nd down and 17 play from Bertie’s 29 yardline, Ward called his own number. He darted left, towards the Bertie sideline, and after avoiding two tackles, the quarterback cut to the middle of the field where he broke free from at least four tackles en route to a 71-yard dash to the endzone. Anthony Speight ran in the conversion, staking Bertie to a 28-21 lead, an advantage they would never surrender.

Hertford County would have two more offensive possessions, but neither crossed midfield. One ended with a lost fumble while the other was halted thanks to a game-ending quarterback sack by Speight.

Each team scored on their opening possession.

Hertford County received the game’s opening kickoff and drove 46 yards in six plays capped by Jordan Staton’s 13-yard touchdown run. Ty’Drevion Joyner booted the PAT for a 7-0 lead at the 9:24 mark of the first quarter.

Bertie answered with an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive that ended with Ward’s 2-yard TD run. Bertie kept that drive alive with a perfectly executed 35-yard screen pass from Ward to Ro Perry on a 3^rd down and 16 play. Ward scored on the next snap.

Hertford County had a chance to regain the lead on the game’s next possession, but a costly penalty got in the way. Highlighted by a 38-yard pass from Rucker Nixon to Rimiez Williams, the Bears drove to Bertie’s 4 yardline, but a 15-yard illegal block penalty pushed the ball back to the 19. From there, two passes fell incomplete and HCHS surrendered possession on loss of downs.

The Bears wasted another opportunity in great field position on their next possession. After Bertie gambled on a failed fake punt at their own 43 yardline, Hertford County netted only one yard on three plays and punted.

Taking over at their own 10 yardline, Bertie mounted a 90-yard scoring drive that consumed nearly six minutes. Two big pass plays highlighted that drive as Ward connected twice with Zy’Miere Dempsey, once for 35 yards and the second one for 25 yards for a touchdown with less than 90 seconds left before halftime. The conversion run failed, but the Falcons took a 14-7 lead that held until the mid-break.

Bertie wasted little time in padding their lead. On the first play of the third quarter, Perry reeled off a 56-yard run down to the HCHS 9 yardline. Speight scored on the next snap and despite a failed conversion run, the Falcons held a 20-7 lead at the 11:07 mark of the period.

Hertford County was able to get back in the game thanks to a blocked punt by Andrew Muhammad that was recovered by Adonnis Bunch at the Falcons 30 yardline. Three plays later, Nixon connected with Caden Woods on a 13-yard touchdown pass. Joyner booted the PAT as the Bears drew to within 20-14 with 7:45 left in the third quarter.

The Bears got another break inside the final 30 seconds of the period when the Bertie punter was tackled for a loss after a high snap. However, after taking over at the Falcons 21 yardline, HCHS couldn’t cash in as Dempsey, playing on defense, knocked down a 4^th-and-goal pass from the 7 yardline.

But the Bears got the ball back three plays later when defender Carlos Moore recovered a Bertie fumble at the Falcons 17 yardline. A face mask penalty on Bertie pushed the ball to the 9 yardline and Nixon scored four plays later when his second effort, and a push from his teammates, allowed him to cross the goal line from 1 yard out. Joyner’s PAT kick was low, but it cleared the crossbar by mere inches to give HCHS a 21-20 lead with 6:18 left in the contest, setting up the dramatic finish on Ward’s game-winning touchdown run.

Bertie finished the game with 437 yards of total offense, more than doubling the HCHS effort. Perry rushed for a game-high 146 yards on 23 carries while Ward added 144 yards on the ground (on 12 carries) and another 130 yards through the air (7-of-15 passing).

Hertford County had 212 yards of total offense. Nixon threw for 116 yards (7-of-16). Adyen Everette led the Bears on the ground with 61 of his team’s 96 rushing yards.

Bertie (1-2 overall) will host First Flight High School this Friday (Sept. 13) in a 7 p.m. non-conference game.

Hertford County (1-2 overall) has an open date on their schedule this week.