The REPORTER
The Hamilton Heights Huskies took a short road trip north on State Road 19 to Tipton with high hopes of not only a win to stay unbeaten, but also wanted to head home with the Hoosier Conference East Division title. They accomplished both of those on their way to a 43-0 rout of the host Blue Devils. It’s the fifth straight shutout for the Huskies.
The Huskies took full advantage of opportunities in front of them all night and capitalized every time. That started in the first.
Eric Balcom was the first to score for Heights. He found the end zone on an 11-yard run.
Hamilton Heights went up 14-0 to end the first. Bodie Derrer found Jaylyn Pugh for a 47-yard touchdown pass.
Keeping their foot on the gas, Heights scored two more in the second quarter. Derrer threw his second passing touchdown, this time to his top receiver Tyler Champion from 11 yards away. Balcom ran in the two-point attempt for a 22-0 lead.
The lead swelled to 29-0 at halftime. Owen VanHaaren scored on a one-yard run in the final minute of the second.
With 1:26 off of the third period clock, Eric Balcom ran 52-yards for another Heights score for a 36-0 advantage.
Heights would score one more time to put the game away. Derrer found Champion for a 68-yard touchdown for the final score of 43-0.
Balcom led the Huskies with 79 yards rushing on just three rushes. Derrer threw with precision, completing 15-of-19 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns. Champion caught four for 118 and his two scores, while Pugh also had four for 105 and a score.
Hamilton Heights (7-0) hosts South Bend Washington (2-5) next Friday night at Husky Stadium for a 7:30 kickoff.
On Oct. 13, Heights will be on the road at West Lafayette (5-2, 3-0 HC) to play for the Hoosier Conference championship.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 43, TIPTON 0
Score by Quarters
Hamilton Heights 14 15 14 0 – 43
Tipton 0 0 0 0 – 0
Team stats HH TIP
First Downs 7 4
By Rush 3 0
By Pass 4 0
By Penalty 0 4
Rushes-Yards 19-150 31-61
Passing Yards 285 9
Comp-Att-Int-TD 15-19-0-3 2-5-0-0
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 10-120 4-25
Punts-Average 2-61.5 7-39.4
Scoring
First Quarter
3:56 – Eric Balcom 11-yard run (Teigan Scoles kick)
0:28 – Jaylyn Pugh 47-yard pass from Bodie Derrer (Scoles kick)
Second Quarter
6:46 – Tyler Champion 11-yard pass from Derrer (Balcom run)
0:36 – Owen VanHaaren 1-yard run (Scoles kick)
Third Quarter
10:34 – Balcom 59-yard run (Scoles kick)
5:50 – Champion 68-yard pass from Derrer (Scoles kick)
Heights individual stats
Rushing: Balcom 3-79, VanHaaren 11-41, Derrer 3-30, Logan Hickman 1-3, Drew Woodruff 1-minus 3.
Passing: Derrer 15-19-285.
Receiving: Cam Fleming 5-46, Champion 4-118, Pugh 4-105, VanHaaren 2-16.