Royals aim to build on playoff success

Hamilton Southeastern’s AZ Wallace averaged 5.7 yards per game and scored nine touchdowns for the Royals during his junior year last season. Wallace is back for his senior season at Southeastern. (Joshua Herd/File photo)

By CRAIG ADKINS

For The Reporter

The Hamilton Southeastern football team has itself in a pretty good spot with fifth-year head coach Michael Kelly (35-10). He was also 14-16 in from 2017-2019 at Seymour.

Last season, the Royals were 9-3, winning five of their last seven before losing their regional battle with Westfield, 24-21. HSE is back to their winning ways the last four seasons, including two consecutive sectional crowns and a trip to the semi-state in 2022.

Senior quarterback Chandler Weston returns from a productive junior season. Weston threw for 1,415 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior and ran for 295 yards and four TDs.

Southeastern graduated two of the more talented skilled players in the area in Jalen Alexander (1,444 rushing yards, 17 TDs) and 2022-23 Hamilton County Reporter Player of the Year Donovan Hamilton (934 receiving yards, 11 TDs).

Senior AZ Wallace is back from a junior year when he gained 595 yards for a 5.7 average and nine TDs on the ground. Fellow senior Brennan Baker (121 yards, TD) will be another important piece to HSE’s offense this year.

Seniors Dylan James (110 yards, two TDs) and Liam Boyd (105) return at wide receiver for HSE. Along with juniors Kendrick Pennybaker and Graham Toner, the Royals WR corps looks to make a name for themselves.

On the defensive side, the Royals graduated many players that contributed to their 2023 success, but still have a lot coming back. Senior Michael Hoog brings his 64 tackles (2.5 for a loss, 1.5 sacks) back and fellow senior Mason Alexander leads the secondary with three interceptions, eight pass deflections and added 39 tackles.

HSE continues its series with Fort Wayne Carroll to begin the season on Aug. 23. They began a series with the Chargers following their 2022 semi-state playoff matchup.

The Royals’ home opener is in Week 2 against North Central on Aug. 30. Hoosier Crossroads Conference play starts on Sept. 6 at Avon. The Battle for the Mudsock continues at home on Sept. 13 versus Fishers. On Sept. 20, Southeastern heads to Westfield and hosts Zionsville to end the month on Sept. 27.

A road trip to Noblesville starts October off on Oct. 4, with the final two regular season games being at Franklin Central on Oct. 11 and at home against Brownsburg on Oct. 18.

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