MACHESNEY PARK — Trailing Guilford 7-6, Harlem coach Jim Morrow told his players at halftime they would find out what type of team they were in the second half. Actually, the Huskies (6-0) gave Morrow a preview two minutes before half with a goal-line stand that keyed a 24-14 win.

“If we got that touchdown before half, it would have been a different ballgame,” Guilford coach Mel Gilfillan said. “That would have been a confidence boost.”

With what Morrow called “great” play-calling by Guilford, the Vikings (2-4) used up 11 minutes of clock on an 21-play, 82-yard drive that stalled at the 1-yard line. Four times, Harlem’s defense kept Guilford out of the end zone on plays within the 5-yard line — the last a stop by defensive end Alex Poppen on quarterback Jeff Janusevic’s keeper.

“We blitzed the linebackers and had everyone going,” said Poppen, who crashed down the line.

“The defense came through when we needed it,” Morrow said.

The offense also came through for Morrow in the second half. On Harlem’s first two plays, Keith Purifoy and Andy Kennington had long runs to set up a 4-yard touchdown run by Keenan Kellett, giving Harlem its first lead, 14-7.

“That first possession of the second half was the most critical and the kids responded,” Morrow said.

After forcing a Guilford punt, Kellett connected with a streaking Tyler Cox for a 68-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-7 midway through the third quarter.

“It’s easy with a kid as fast as Tyler,” Kellett said. “He can get behind the defense.”

The pair also combined for Harlem’s first score, a 37-yard touchdown on the same post route. Both times, Cox flew past the Guilford secondary and Kellett threw perfect balls.

“Keenan throws money passes,” Cox said.

“They beat us on two big plays,” Gillifan said. “I think No. 4 (Kellett) is the best quarterback in the league.”

“They do a lot of work in the summer to get their reads down,” Morrow said. “And, the line gives them time.”

Guilford’s Avery Sherman, who caught five passes for 89 yards, all of the leaping variety in traffic, scored on a 14-yarder from Janusevic to cut the lead to 21-14 with 10 minutes left in the game.

“He’s so athletic,” Gilfillan said.

Drew Terpstra kicked a 25-yard field goal to give Harlem a 10-point lead with four minutes left to seal the win. An 11-yard screen pass to Sterling Hecox on fourth down kept the drive alive for Harlem.

“This is the best Harlem team I’ve seen,” said Gilfillan, in his eighth year.

Albert Porter scored on a 5-yard run to give the Vikings a 7-0 lead. Guilford ran 35 plays to only 15 for Harlem in the first half.

- Andy Colbert, rrstar.com