By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
Hamilton Heights head football coach Jon Kirschner enters his seventh season (33-30) leading the Huskies this year and his teams keep getting better.
Last season, Heights started off 11-0, including five straight shutouts and ended the regular season winning the outright Hoosier Conference title at West Lafayette. The 2023 campaign was a dream season for the Huskies that unfortunately came to an end in the sectional championship game at home to eventual Class 3A state champion Bishop Chatard, 28-8.
Heights will have a new quarterback this year, with Bodie Derrer (1,911 yards and 16 TDs), Owen VanHaaren (865 yards) and Eric Balcom (490) all graduating, leaving a hole in the rushing game. The trio also combined to score 24 touchdowns.
The Huskies have two quarterbacks that are in competition for the starting nod to replace the graduated Derrer, who’s now a Ball State Cardinal.
“Right now, there looks to be a competition between sophomore Drew Woodruff and senior Joey Sigler,” said head coach Jon Kirschner.
Senior Logan Hickman (74 yards and a TD) and junior Nathan Flanders (37 yards and a TD) both saw time as backups and are the lone running backs returning with experience.
“Running back will be a by-committee approach with no true starter named at this point. Players in the mix at RB will be junior Dre Chandler, senior Logan Hickman and junior Nathan Flanders,” continued Kirschner.
Senior Tyler Champion (645 yards and seven TDs) leads four receivers returning with significant contributions. Senior Cam Fleming (356 yards, two TDs), senior Keaton Weaver (258 yards, three TDs) and junior Dre Chandler (102 yards) will all be major contributors in Heights’ offensive attack.
Senior Kendall Flanders returns as the leading tackler with 63 (10 for a loss, three sacks), along with three fumble recoveries from last season. Michael Cain is back up front for his senior season after 12 sacks, 43 tackles (13 for a loss) and a fumble recovery. Nick Hulen comes back as a senior from a junior season with 37 tackles (five for a loss) and a pass deflection.
“Overall, our team’s success will be dependent on the leadership and play of guys like seniors Tyler Champion, Keaton Weaver, Michael Cain, two-way lineman Drew Laitas and Kendall Flanders. We feel we have a strong nucleus of newcomers and younger players who will do a phenomenal job filling the voids left by last year’s graduating seniors,” added Kirschner.
Starting this season off on the road at Lapel on Aug. 23, Hamilton Heights hosts Triton Central on Aug. 30 for its home opener. Sept. 6 puts Heights on the road at 4A McCutcheon and they’ll stay on the road at Danville on Sept. 13.
The Western Panthers come to town from Russiaville for a Hoosier Conference Big School division opener on Sept. 20 and then face league newcomer Logansport on the road on Sept. 27. Twin Lakes comes to Arcadia on Oct. 4, then the Huskies head just north to face the Tipton Blue Devils on Oct. 11 and conclude the regular season at home on Oct. 18 against West Lafayette.