Hanover Area wins their third straight San Souci Struggle

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John Kotsko | October 31, 2026

Hanover Area struggled all season with injuries. Down to their backup quarterback and third string running back in starting fullback Brody Richardson and he ended up doing a little bit of everything as he scored two touchdowns and Gregory McCoy scored the game-winning touchdown with 4:21 left and the defense got a big stop as the Hawkeyes took the 28-21 victory over Nanticoke to reclaim the San Souci Struggle trophy. “We didn’t play our best football but the cream always rises to the top and we showed it here. We fought, on defense, we had a big stop and it’s awesome.” Said Hanover Area Brody Richardson. “You talk about rivalries and this is one of the best rivalries in the Wyoming Valley Conference. There was a lot of chatter during the week. It’s good for the rivalry. To get the win, on senior night, keeping the trophy at home. It’s a great thing for our school, our program and our community. Said Hawkeyes head coach Eric Richardson.

The Hawkeyes received the opening kickoff and moved the ball into Nanticoke territory. After an offsides on a fourth down and 2, the Trojans got three sacks on three straight plays and were forced to punt. After a three and out. Gerard McCoy found Angel Tejada for a 42 yard completion and early in the second quarter, Brody Richardson scored from four yards for a 7-0 Hanover Area lead with 11:13 remaining in the second quarter.

Second play of the drive, Chet Beggs found Justin Johnson for a 56 yard completion. Two plays later, Johnson scored from four yards out to tie the game at 7 with 9:27 remaining in the second quarter. Tejada returned the ball to the Nanticoke 10 yard line. The Hawkeyes went three and out and attempted a field goal but the try was no good.

The Trojans next drive ended with a fumble recovered by Tejada. Hanover Area capitalized as Brody Richardson scored from nine yards out to take a 14-7 lead with 1:51 remaining in the second quarter and that was the score at halftime.

After both teams traded punts, the Trojans took the ball in good field position. The drive ended with Johnson scoring his second touchdown, this time, from 16 yards out to tie the game at 14 with 36 seconds to go in the third quarter. On the enduring kickoff, Tejada scored from 83 yards on the return to give Hanover Area a 21-14 lead with 24 seconds to go in the third quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, Johnson scored from 71 yards to tie the game at 21-21 with 11:48 remaining in the fourth quarter. Gregory McCoy scored from one yard out to give the Hawkeyes a 28-21 lead with 4:21 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Trojans faced a fourth down on their own 45 with 1:49 left and Johnson gained enough and a personal foul penalty got them to the Hawkeye 43 yard line. They faced a fourth down with 52 seconds left and Beggs’ pass fell incomplete and Hanover Area took over and took kneel downs as the Hawkeyes took a 28-21 victory to keep the San Souci Struggle victory in Hanover Township. With the victory, Hanover Area clinched a playoff spot as the eighth seed with Crestwood’s loss to Wyoming Valley West. They will play Dallas next week. Nanticoke ends their season at 2-8.