Hurricanes Blow Through Patriots
In their first home playoff game since 2004, Page fell to East Hamilton 32-7 in the Class 4A playoffs. The Hurricanes forced four Patriot turnovers to run away from Page before coasting to the win. Page’s finished the season at 7-4.
Patriots Unable To Overcome Turnovers
The Hurricanes opened the game on the ground, as running back Davis Whiteside got East Hamilton inside the 5 yard line. Quarterback Nick Woods would finish the drive for the Canes with a 2 yard plunge, but the point after would sail wide right, putting East Hamilton up 6-0. Page was unable to get anything going offensively on the next drive, before Brent Cimaglia’s punt was blocked and returned for a Hurricane touchdown. The two-point conversion was turned away to make the score 12-0.
Page would punt twice, sandwiching a Hurricane punt. In the second quarter, East Hamilton would expand their lead on a Whiteside 57-run through the heart of the Patriot defense. The missed PAT would make the score 18-0 for the Hurricanes. On the ensuing Page drive, Michael Magochy would be intercepted by East Hamilton’s Jeffrey Coleman. The Page defense would get the ball back after a turnover on downs. Magochy would respond from his interception with a 77-yard touchdown pass to Connor Morss, putting the Patriots on the board, 18-7. East Hamilton would respond, as Woods found Coleman for a 48-yard touchdown. Another interception of Magochy would set up 
another touchdown pass from Woods to Coleman, this time from 27 yards out. The Hurricanes would lead at halftime 32-7.
The second half would be scoreless, but emotional and chippy throughout. Neither team could get a sustained drive to get in position to put points on the board. East Hamilton would get another interception of Magochy and Michael Roberts would fumble on Page’s most promising drive of the 3rd quarter. The fourth quarter would consist of four punts and a turnover on downs, leaving the tally at 32-7 for the final.
East Hamilton’s game plan was to force the Patriots into being one dimensional and put pressure on Magochy. The Patriots’ signal-caller was under duress most of the night as the Hurricanes sent one or both cornerbacks to force early throws. Magochy finished the game21 of 37 for 193 yards, 1 touchdown, and three interceptions. He had entered the game with only one interception on the year. Page struggled with the size of East Hamilton on the offensive and defensive lines. East Hamilton held Page to 79 yards on the ground, though the Patriots were forced into playing from behind after going down by two touchdowns. Michael Roberts would finish the night with 8 carries for 32 yards.
The Patriots will look to find new playmakers this offseason to replace their senior leaders. Magochy, Roberts, Morss, Noah Green, and Dillon Myers all graduate this year, with Magochy and Roberts both getting substantial looks at the next level. However, after what some called “the year” for Charles Rathbone’s squad, the Patriots will have to go to the next man up to compete next year in Region 4-4A.
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