For the past two weeks, the Hamilton Heights football team has had to make long bus rides home on Friday night.
But they have been happy rides. Friday’s trip home must have been especially nice, since the Huskies came back from a 14-0 first-quarter deficit to stun Class 2A No. 9 Rensselaer Central 26-21.
“Anytime you win, it’s awesome for the kids,” said Heights coach Jonathan Kirschner. He reflected on the past two weeks, starting with last Friday’s last-minute trip to Bluffton, where the Huskies picked up their first win of the season. Then it was a long trip this Friday.
Because of all this, Kirschner said his team is finding out it has the ability to fight through adversity.
“We have the will and the fortitude and the grit,” said Kirschner. “To their credit, these young men have found a way to fight through that adversity.”
The game started rocky for Heights, as the Bombers scored twice in the first quarter to go up 14-0. The Huskies got on the board during the waning seconds of the period, as Trey Ehman punched the ball in from the one-yard line with nine seconds left. Jonathan Glenn made the extra-point kick.
Heights tied the game late in the second quarter after Gavin Bramel collected a six-yard touchdown pass from Guy Griffey. Glenn’s kick knotted the game at 14-14. But Rensselaer scored minutes later on a short run and went into halftime ahead 21-14.
The Huskies wouldn’t let the Bombers score again. Instead, Heights added one touchdown in each of the next quarters. Isaac Tuma went first, catching a six-yard pass from Griffey midway through the third period. That got the Huskies within 21-20.
Heights had a late drive stall out in the end zone, and Rensselaer took over. The Bombers got the ball inside the Huskies 30, but the ball came loose and Heights recovered. The Huskies then marched down the field and scored the go-ahead touchdown when Bramel caught a 38-yard pass from Griffey with 1:04 left.
For the kickoff, Kirschner said Heights sent out its “elite kickoff team,” which covered the ball “like wild banshees.” The Huskies kept Rensselaer deep in its own territory, then sealed the game when Vincent Harley made an interception.
“It’s definitely a program win,” said Kirschner. “They have a storied history with football and they’re a really good football team.”
Ehman finished the game with 110 yards, while Griffey went 12-of-22 through the air for 165 yards and three touchdowns. Tuma led the receptions with eight.
Heights is 2-1 and begins Hoosier Conference divisional play next Friday when it hosts Northwestern.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 26, RENSSELAER CENTRAL 21
Score by Quarters
Heights 7 7 6 6 – 26
Rensselaer 14 7 0 0 – 21
Team Stats HH RC
First Downs 16 14
By Rush 7 8
By Pass 8 6
By Penalty 1 0
Rushes-Yards 33-110 37-153
Yards Passing 165 130
Comp-Att-Int-TD 12-22-0-3 10-16-1-1
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 2-2
Penalties-Yards 1-5 2-25
Punts-Average 4-44.0 2-29.5
Heights Scoring
First Quarter
0:09 – Trey Ehman 1-yard run (Jonathan Glenn kick)
Second Quarter
1:57 – Gavin Bramel 4-yard pass from Guy Griffey (Glenn kick), 1:57
Third Quarter
7:27 – Isaac Tuma 6-yard pass from Griffey (kick failed)
Fourth Quarter
1:04 – Bramel 38-yard pass from Griffey (pass failed)
Heights individual stats
Rushing: Ehman 24-110, Griffey 4-16 Chance Yeager 4-10, Dean Mason (1-minus 26.
Passing: Griffey 12-22-165.
Receiving: Tuma 8-106, Bramel 3-55, Yeager 1-4.