HERSHEY, Pa. -- While they say only goalkeepers can put their hands on the ball, Justin Weathers turned the single exception to the rule into a nightmare for Hampton.

Weathers' heaves from the boundary put Hampton in a first-half quandary not to mention a deep hole, and coach Chuck Kelly's Talbots never recovered.

Scoring twice off Weathers' throw-ins -- Greg Patrick and Josh Topper banged home the goals -- Octorara turned those set pieces into a 2-1 victory yesterday against Hampton in the PIAA Class AA boys' soccer final.

Josh Wolff added two saves, including a dandy on Zach Carter's first-half penalty kick, as the Braves (19-4-1) earned their first state championship since 1999.

Evan Wilson spoiled Wolff's shutout with a late goal and John Lichina made five stops for Hampton (19-5-0), which despite amping up its energy level after the break could not overcome its early difficulties.

"It was a good game," Kelly said. "We feel a little unfortunate because we didn't come out in the game the way we needed to.

"They definitely had a high-tempo game, and I'm disappointed that we couldn't match that in the first half."

Weathers' throws played perhaps the largest role.

Patrick took advantage of the first key throw in, slotting a ball past Lichina with 26:35 gone. Then, 88 seconds later, Octorara cashed in a second time when Topper nodded Weathers' pitch from the left boundary just inside the left upright.

Bang ... bang.

"I'm looking for something every time [I throw]," Weathers said.

"I'm either looking for Greg at the near post. And if I see too many people on him, I try to throw it further, further into the middle of the box near the PK line.

"Usually, Topper comes in there. If not, I'll throw it all the way across to the other side and, hopefully, somebody else on the other side will put it in."

The Talbots tried to mount a rally, but nothing broke their way.

Not Nathan Sobotka's rip, which glanced off the crossbar.

Not Carter's penalty kick, which Wolff smothered with a lunge to his left.

"I was so happy, I was so excited," Weathers said. "I was like, 'Good job, Wolffie.' He's the best keeper."

"That was just one play in the game," Kelly said. "There were other plays we didn't make that they made.

One play that was made came with 11:02 remaining, when Wilson capped a scramble in front by squeezing a shot that zipped past Wolff.

But that would be as close as Hampton got.

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