John Woodford was hit hard by Cardinal Hayes defensive end Gallo Henson as he released the ball towards the end zone. The St. Peter’s quarterback couldn’t see the outcome of this pass as he was laid out on the turf. His ears told him all he needed to know.

“As soon as I hear my teammates screaming that’s when I knew he caught it,” Woodford said.

What he missed was Will Scali making a diving catch for a 20-yard score to put St. Peter’s on the board to start the second half. Woodford added a 4-yard touchdown run to get his team within two points in the fourth quarter. But the Eagles stumbled on their final two drives, fumbling once and not getting past the 50-yard line, at they fell to Hayes, 20-12, in the two teams’ CHSFL AA-A season finale at SUNY Maritime Friday night.

“We definitely felt like we could have put the drive together,” Woodford said. “We had no doubt we could drive down the field. Little mistakes hurt us.”

A Hakim Rice fumble, following a Nick Moore interception of Hayes sophomore quarterback Ryan Camillo, set up a 29-yard touchdown run by Donald Thomas. The junior’s second score of the game gave the Cardinals (6-1, 6-1 CHSFL AA-A) a 20-12 lead with 4:28 remaining. Hayes was playing without starting signal-caller Kwamayne Davis because of a one week academic suspension.

Woodford, who was sacked twice on St. Peter’s final drive, spent most of the evening scrambling in the pocket. Rice rushed for 83 yards on 11 carries.

“I felt pressure, tried to make moves and it just didn’t work out,” Woodford said.

Cardinal Hayes led 14-0 at the half on a 4-yard scoring run by Camillo and 9-yard scamper into the end zone by Thomas right before the break. The Eagles (3-4, 3-4) picked off Camillo twice and held Hayes star running back Jeramiah Kobena without a big play. All of which was encouraging to Woodford, but it wasn’t enough.

“If we played like this every game,” he said, “I think we could have been in the top three.”