(WITH PHOTO GALLERY AND VIDEOS) Hartland Football's Second-Half Rally Falls Short

YPSILANTI — A thrilling second-half comeback didn't end Hartland's way after a game-tying field goal missed wide left as time ran out, handing the Eagles a 28-25 loss in the season opener to Ann Arbor Skyline.

Hartland, 0-1, fell behind early, giving up 21 points in the first quarter and later facing a 28-3 deficit early in the third before soaring back with 22 unanswered points. The Eagles nearly forced overtime after driving almost the length of the field with 44 seconds to play after Ann Arbor had pinned Hartland inside the 10 with a punt.

But Alec Bain's 34-yard attempt narrowly missed ending the first of two Friday games of the 2011 Big Day Prep Showdown in dramatic fashion at Eastern Michigan University's Rynearson Stadium.

"It's easy to throw in the towel when you get down, so it's a credit to these kids they continued to fight," said Hartland head coach Marcus Dukes after the game. "To go 90 some yards in 40 seconds to give yourself a chance to kick a field goal, that's pretty impressive, but you can't wait until that point in the game to make some plays. You have to make them earlier."

Hartland dug a hole early as Ann Arbor's passing attack led by quarterback Andrew Copp rung up the scoreboard in the first quarter with touchdown passes of 74, 35 and 51 yards. Theron Wilson, who also had an interception, pulled in two of the TDs and was named Skyline's most outstanding player for the game.

"We knew coming in they're a quick strike offense — they have guys who can play on the edges and a quarterback who can throw it," Dukes said. "There were times we tonight we didn't a good job keeping them in front of us."

The Eagles also were plagued with turnovers all game long, including a fumble at the beginning of the second half that led to Ann Arbor's final TD at 9:49 of the third quarter. In addition, Hartland quarterback Stephen Milarch threw two interceptions in the end zone — late in the second quarter and a second about midway through the fourth quarter — that also blunted Eagle scoring drives.

"We made mistakes that cost us," Dukes said. "You can't turn the ball over."

But Hartland also benefited from miscues, including recovering a fumbled snap on a punt late in the fourth quarter. That led to Hartland scoring its third touchdown with 2:31 left when Milarch ran in from the five-yard line and the team scored a two-point conversion to bring the game to 28-25.

The rally began with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Milarch to Anthony Villar with 7:05 to go in the third quarter. Before that, the Eagles only points were from a 19-yard field goal by Bain at 8:42 of the second quarter.

The Eagles narrowed the lead to 28-17 when running back Travis Spears scampered eight yards to score a touchdown with 7:10 to go in the fourth quarter. Spears, who rushed for 75 yards to lead Hartland according to an mLive box score, was named the Eagles' most outstanding player of the game.

Hartland now will prepare for a 7 p.m. contest Thursday vs. Livonia Franklin at home.

"We're confident that our plan on both sides of the ball is sound," Dukes said. "It's just a matter of getting a little better and refining some things and I think we'll be alright."

Editor's note: Please check back later for additional game photos. For Dukes' interview and footage of the last play of the game, click on videos below the photos.