The Hawthorne Hornets run onto the field before their FHSAA 1R Regional Final game against the Williston Red Devils. (Trey Johnson/Quiet Kid Media)


The Hawthorne Hornets defeated the Williston Red Devils 34-16 to advance to their fourth straight state semifinal.


The Hornets are looking to repeat after winning the school’s first title last season.


“We know what we’re trying to do,” said Hawthorne head coach Cornelius Ingram to his team after the win. “We supposed to dominate like that.”


Early Punches

Williston came out swinging. However, they couldn’t connect on all their jabs. 


On the team’s first play from scrimmage, running back Jace McDonald made a quick cut up the field for over 20 yards. The Red Devil fans were on their feet for this highly anticipated game. If you weren’t sitting in the bleachers, you were standing on the fence for the entire game.


The hype was short-lived, as Williston had to settle for a field goal. The Red Devils attempted an onside kick on the ensuing play but could not recover. The move gave Hawthorne great field position. The Hornets capitalized on fourth and goal as quarterback CJ Ingram found receiver Alvon Isaac for a three-yard touchdown pass. The Hornets led 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.


Midway through the second quarter, Hawthorne running back Keenon Johnson broke several tackles on his way to a 45-yard touchdown run to put the Hornets up 14-3.

Hawthorne running back Keenon Johnson drags a defender into the end zone to put the Hornets up 14-3 in the second quarter of the FHSAA 1R Regional Final against Williston High School. (Trey Johnson/Quiet Kid Media)

Williston responded immediately with a 60-yard touchdown run from Ja’mez Jamison. Yet, the team lost quarterback Shamon Coleman who twisted his ankle on the play. He would hobble off the field.


Hawthorne wasted no time as CJ found Isaac again for a 20-yard touchdown pass. The Hornets led 20-10 at halftime.


Hornets Run Away

CJ found receiver Matthew Mckinley-Daniels for a 70-yard touchdown pass to open the third quarter.


Down 27-10, the Red Devils turned to backup quarterback John Jazikoff. He didn’t attempt any passes on the drive and Williston would have to punt.


Hawthorne added another touchdown at the end of the third as CJ found tight end Andrew Zock for 15 yards. The Hornets led 34-10 entering the fourth quarter.

Hawthorne quarterback CJ Ingram attempts a pass in the third quarter of the FHSAA 1R Regional Final against Williston High School. (Trey Johnson/Quiet Kid Media)

Red Devils Show Heart

Coleman would return to the helm of Williston’s offense in the fourth. Although hobbled, he was able to find tight end Jackson Islam across the middle for a 40-yard touchdown pass.

Coleman said he knew he had to keep fighting for his team despite being hurt.


“I knew I wasn’t done,” he said postgame. “I knew I was going to come back on the field.” 


Coleman said he hopes that younger kids learned to “always have heart.”

Williston quarterback Shamon Coleman attempts a pass in the fourth quarter of the FHSAA 1R Regional Final against Hawthorne High School. (Trey Johnson/Quiet Kid Media)

Hawthorne’s offense stalled in the fourth as they did not score the rest of the game.


As the clock ticked down, Hornet fans could be heard chanting, “Shake the devil off” while singing Steam’s “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.”


Moving On

Hawthorne will host Blountstown in the state semifinal next week.


The Hornets are currently on a 23-game winning streak. Their last loss was in the 2021 state championship against Madison County. A game the Hornets lost by one point.


A title game rematch may be in the works as Madison County hosts Bozeman (Panama City, Florida) on the other side of the bracket.


Coach Ingram was proud of the way his team played against Williston. Yet, he let them know that it wasn’t perfect. He said they looked explosive and really bad on both sides of the ball. 


“We have to be more consistent going forward,” he said.

Hawthorne running back Keenan Johnson celebrates his touchdown run with a teammate during the FHSAA 1R Regional Final against Williston High School. (Trey Johnson/Quiet Kid Media)