Huskies fall to Triton Central in overtime

HEAD: Huskies fall to Triton Central in overtime

By CRAIG ADKINS

For The Reporter

ARCADIA – The Hamilton Heights football team came up short in overtime in its home opener with Triton Central, 17-14.

The game began last Friday but was postponed to Saturday due to lightning and storms.

The heat was the issue at first. The game temperature started out at a balmy 91 degrees with the heat index pushed to 100. The officials gave the players a water break midway through the first quarter and a little longer of a break after the quarter ended.

A lightning delay was called at 7:50 p.m., and eventually the game was postponed and resumed at 2 p.m. the next day.

The Tigers scored first on the opening drive. They took four minutes off of the clock when running back Kade Stephens ran in a 22-yard touchdown for a 7-0 score.

Heights got its TD early in the second. The Huskies had a third and four at the Triton Central 16. Joey Sigler got the toss out of the backfield and sprinted 16 yards for the touchdown. Keegan Kavanaugh booted the extra point through to tie it 7-7.

The Huskies resumed play last Saturday with third down and seven from the Tiger 36 with 6:22 on the second-quarter clock.

They wound up turning it over on downs back to the Tigers. Triton Central would do the same on its very next series.

The Tigers’ next drive ended as soon as it started. Quarterback Sam Collier was flushed out of the pocket and forced to throw across the field into triple coverage. Junior Nick Bichey intercepted Collier and ran it back untouched 59 yards for a touchdown. That gave Heights a 14-7 lead.

The middle of the third quarter proved to be a pivotal defensive stance.

The Tigers had a fourth and one at the Husky 26. Kade Stephens fumbled and Joey Sigler was there to pounce on the ball at the 15.

“We had execution problems all over the field, didn’t get it done today,” said a frustrated Hamilton Heights head coach Jon Kirschner.

Forced to punt again, Cyrus Mason’s attempt was blocked by and recovered by Triton Central’s Xavier Seabrook at the Heights four.

“Our turnovers and penalties, we couldn’t get anything going on the offensive side of the ball today. The defense played lights out. Goal line stands that offense and special teams created,” added Kirschner.

That led to Stephens rushing in from two yards out for the Tigers to tie it again at 14-14.

The two teams spent the majority of the fourth quarter trading punts, and the score stayed at 14-14. That sent this game into overtime.

The OT started with Triton Central on offense first. The Huskies held tight and forced the Tigers to kick a field goal. Nicholas Tormoehlen kicked a chip shot on fourth down and six for the 17-14 lead.

The Huskies were in prime shape to go for the win. On the second play from the Tigers’ 10, Drew Woodruff threw an interception right into the hands of cornerback Braden Brown that ended the game.

“They made too many mistakes and it cost us in a tight game,” stated Kirschner.

“I thought they were ready to go. We had some good meetings this morning, I thought the kids were dialed in and ready to go. We just made a bunch of mistakes and they capitalized off of them,” continued Kirschner.

Triton Central (1-1) was led by Kade Stephens with 28 carries for 140 yards and both Tiger touchdowns. The Tigers host Indianapolis Lutheran (2-0) Friday.

Woodruff was able to complete passes to five different receivers, but was just 11 for 24 for 91 yards. Tyler Champion caught four for 30, Keaton Weaver three for 26 and Cam Fleming reeled in two for 24. Joey Sigler had just 28 rushing yards to lead Heights.

Hamilton Heights (0-2) hits the road for the second time in three games Friday, heading to Lafayette to face the Class 5A McCutcheon Mavericks (0-2). The Mavs lost 34-28 to West Lafayette at home.