The REPORTER
Hamilton Heights’ extraordinary season continued on Friday with the Huskies putting together their best offensive production to date.
Heights roared past South Bend Washington 51-6 in a home game. The Huskies, ranked No. 4 in the Class 3A AP poll and No. 7 in the coaches poll, were merciless in this game, scoring in each quarter and eating up serious ground on their many trips to the end zone.
Six of Heights’ touchdowns were by run. Eric Balcom had half of those scores, racking up three in the first two quarters with short runs. In between, Dean Mason made a tackle for a safety, giving the Huskies two extra first-quarter points.
Jaylyn Pugh helped out with a tremendous touchdown in the second quarter, taking a punt return 63 yards to the end zone. Balcom also made a two-point run and Teigan Scoles kicked three extra points, adding it all up to a 31-0 Heights halftime lead.
Jaylyn Pugh added another touchdown to Heights’ total by taking a 63-yard punt return into the end zone. (Bob Cross)
In the third quarter, the Panthers did something no team has been able to do since August: Score against the Huskies. That touchdown ended Heights’ shutout streak at 22 quarters. But the Huskies were unbothered, adding two more touchdowns in the third period from Nathan Flanders and Logan Hickman. Scoles made both extra-point kicks.
Quarterback Bodie Derrer added another touchdown in the fourth quarter. Derrer had a solid game, going 7-of-14 from the air. Balcom led the rushing with 156 yards. Meanwhile, Heights’ defense played outstanding on the ground, holding Washington to minus 20 yards rushing.
The Huskies are still perfect for the year at 8-0, and play at West Lafayette next Friday in the Hoosier Conference championship game.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 51, SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON 6
Score by Quarters
SB Washington 0 0 6 0 – 6
Hamilton Heights 17 14 14 6 – 51
Team stats SBW HH
First Downs 3 15
By Rush 1 13
By Pass 2 2
By Penalty 0 0
Rushes-Yards 15-minus 20 38-258
Passing Yards 107 36
Comp-Att-Int-TD 7-26-1-n/a 7-14-1-0
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards 6-38 2-15
Punts-Average 9-28.4 1-52.0
Heights Scoring
First Quarter
9:14 – Eric Balcom 7-yard run (Teigan Scoles kick)
6:37 – Safety
4:37 – Balcom 3-yard run (Balcom run)
Second Quarter
4:31 – Balcom 9-yard run (Scoles kick)
2:26 – Jaylyn Pugh 63-yard punt return (Scoles kick)
Third Quarter
7:45 – Nathan Flanders 16-yard run (Scoles kick)
2:11- Logan Hickman 21-yard run (Scoles kick)
Fourth Quarter
7:50 – Bodie Derrer 6-yard run (kick blocked)
Heights individual stats
Rushing: Balcom 15-156, Hickman 6-40, Flanders 6-30, Derrer 9-28, Blake Blackhurst 1-5, Drew Woodruff 1-minus 1.
Passing: Derrer 7-14-36.
Receiving: Tyler Champion 3-21, Conor Baumann 2-minus 3, Balcom 1-13, Flanders 1-5.