Photo by Andrew Grimm The Huskies’ Hayden Cassidy rushes towards the endzone past Claymont defenders on a 10-yard scoring run.

CADIZ — The game of football can bring people together — especially those in a hurting, tight-knit community.

It brought the Harrison Central community together Friday night at Wagner Field as it grieved the death of sophomore Zane Carson.

On the field, the Huskies gave their mourning faithful a reason to smile, using a dominating second-half effort to open the season with a 36-19 victory over visiting Claymont.

Though, to head coach Anthony Hayes, neither the score nor result is what made him most proud of his team.

“It’s been a very difficult week for our community, our young men and our coaches,” Hayes said. “It’s been difficult for everyone. It’s a hard thing to understand and deal with as an adult, let alone for the kids to have to deal with it. We talked all week about loving one another, playing together and being a family.

“Our community is so close-knit, so close together. There is so much love in our community. Our kids are surrounded by that. We did what we know how to do — survive, come together and heal together.

“Our kids did the best they could all week long to practice under great, difficult circumstances. Our coaches did as well. We told them we just wanted them to go out and play hard. They were winners to me before they even set foot on the field regardless of what the score showed because they showed us who they are throughout the course of the week. In my mind, they had already won.

The Mustangs players, coaches and fans joined the Huskies at midfield following the game for a vigil. Flowers were sold by Harrison Central seniors as a fundraiser for Carson’s family, raising more than $2,400. Both the 50/50 and halftime kick winners also donated all of their winnings to the grieving family.

“You hope that the game of football can give you a release from things for a couple hours, allow things to feel normal for a little while. Sports is by no means the end-all, be-all for anything, it really isn’t, but it also offers a special opportunity for people to come together, lean on one another, cheer for one another and to pass out lots of hugs and smiles. It brings everyone together in victory or defeat.

Cam McAfee, who also had key contributions in the rushing and receiving game as well as an interception on defense, returned the opening kickoff of the third quarter 75 yards to score and give the Huskies the lead, and they did not look back.

Mykel Quito, who finished with 61 yards, had a pair of 12-yard scoring runs, one in the third and another in the fourth, to extend the home team’s advantage.

Senior quarterback Hayden Cassidy had a three-touchdown opening-half effort to keep the Huskies within a point at the break. He finished 22 of 32 for 236 yards and a pair of scoring tosses, while adding another TD on a 10-yard run.

His 76-yard bomb to Parker Hutton, who was his top target with 10 catches for 155 yards and the score, put Harrison Central on the board.

Cassidy also fired an 8-yard scoring strike to Alex Fluharty. All told, he spread the ball around to eight different receivers.