Well, it’s what Hopewell did to Hough Sept. 23 in the first competitive game between the new rivals. But unfortunately for Hopewell, it’s also what Mooresville did to the Titans last Thursday.

In a battle between two of the four teams tied for second in the I-Meck, Hopewell found out what it was like to be on the other end of such an outcome, losing 22-19 at home when Mooresville’s Winston Haddock converted a 19-yard field goal with 22.5 seconds left.

And ironically, it came on the same night Hough also traded sides and won on a last-second field goal at West Charlotte, in another battle for second (see story, page 39)

“We let one slip away,” said Hopewell coach David Johnson.

Hopewell (3-4 overall, 2-2 I-Meck) led 19-10 and had the momentum in its favor after a 13-yard Dominique Heath touchdown run and a 17-yard touchdown pass from Tijuan Sifford to Chris Strickland came in a span of 2:35 in the third quarter. Sifford and Strickland had also hooked up for a 40-yard score in the first half. But Mooresville (6-2, 3-1) cut the lead to two on a 23-yard scoring run by speedy quarterback Deonte Black (27 carries, 222 yards) and tied the game at 19-all on a safety when Blue Devil linebacker Charles Wilkes dropped Dominique Heath in the end zone with three minutes left.

The safety was set up by what had the potential to be a game-saving play by the Titan defense. But after Kailian Chavis intercepted Black in the end zone, he was tackled at the 3-yard line when attempting a return.

Mooresville, which travels to Hough Friday for a game between the two remaining second-place IMeck teams, then received the free kick and marched to the Hopewell 2 in the final minute. Backup kicker Haddock split the uprights on a kick shorter than an extra point to end Hopewell’s two-game winning streak.