Before Hamilton Heights took to the field with Tipton for its annual rivalry game for The Hammer, Huskies coach Jon Kirschner pointed out that the last time Heights had won that Hammer was back when Sterling Weatherford – now playing for the Chicago Bears – was on the Huskies team.
“It’s time,” Kirschner told the present-day Huskies.
After that, Heights came out and hammered the Blue Devils, 42-7. The Huskies thus beat their backyard rival for the first time since 2016.
“We just played fast and we flew around the football field, and we had a blast doing it,” said Kirschner. “Proud of my coaches. I thought we executed a great game from a staff standpoint as well. When we made mistakes, we were able to fix them. All around, just a good, solid night.”
Heights got on the board early when Tyler Champion caught a 66-yard touchdown pass from Bodie Derrer, and the quarterback was just getting warmed up. That would be the only score of the first period.
Heights quarterback Bodie Derrer threw for four touchdowns and rushed for one during the Huskies’ victory. (Bob Cross)
The Huskies turned it up in the second quarter, putting in three more touchdowns. Derrer punched the ball in from the one early in the period. Later, Dean Mason scored on a 36-yard interception return; Kirschner said this was Mason’s first full game of the season after injuries.
Then with 17 seconds left before halftime, Champion caught another scoring pass from Derrer, this one for four yards. Teigan Scoles was 4-for-4 in extra-point kicks for the half, and that gave Heights a 28-0 lead.
Tipton scored its touchdown early in the fourth quarter on a 10-yard run, but that would be all. Jaylyn Pugh took a 14-yard Derrer pass in for a touchdown with 7:05 left in the fourth, and Vincent Harley completed the scoring by bringing in another 14-yard Derrer pass. Scoles made both extra-point kicks.
Derrer had an outstanding, night going 15-of-23 for 210 yards and the four touchdowns. Champion made six receptions. Trey Ehman led the rushing with 108 yards.
The Huskies improved to 2-1 in Hoosier Conference East Division play and are 5-2 overall. Heights travels to Lewis Cass next week to finish division play.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 42, TIPTON 7
Score by Quarters
Tipton 0 0 0 7 – 7
Heights 7 21 0 14 – 42
Team Stats TIP HH
First Downs 7 17
By Rush 4 9
By Pass 2 8
By Penalty 1 0
Rushes-Yards 27-81 38-134
Yards Passing 105 210
Comp-Att-Int-TD 7-14-1-0 15-23-0-4
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-0
Penalties-Yards 2-18 5-50
Punts-Average 7-29.4 4-46.3
Heights Scoring
First Quarter
9:44 – Tyler Champion 66-yard pass from Bodie Derrer (Teigan Scoles kick)
Second Quarter
10:14 – Derrer 1-yard run (Scoles kick)
2:57 – Dean Mason 36-yard interception return (Scoles kick)
0:17 – Champion 4-yard pass from Derrer (Scoles kick)
Fourth Quarter
7:05 – Jaylyn Pugh 14-yard pass from Derrer (Scoles kick)
3:21 – Vincent Harley 14-yard pass from Derrer (Scoles kick)
Carmel individual stats
Rushing: Trey Ehman 23-108, Owen VanHaaren 5-29, Eric Balcom 6-20, Derrer 4-minus 23.
Passing: Derrer 15-23-210.
Receiving: Champion 6-110, Cooper Vondersaar 3-31, Evan Tilton 3-24, Keaton Weaver 1-17, Harley 1-14, Pugh 1-14.