The REPORTER
The Hamilton Southeastern football team will get a big game to start the season Friday.
The Royals will take on Fort Wayne Carroll to begin their 2023 campaign, one that hopes to build upon a highly successful 2022 season. Southeastern had an outstanding previous year, rolling to an unbeaten Hoosier Crossroads Championship title and winning sectional and regional crowns before falling to Carroll in the semi-state. The Royals thus finished the season 12-1.
“We are excited because it is the first game of the season and an opportunity to compete,” said Southeastern coach Michael Kelly.
Two big offensive players will return for HSE. First is reigning Hamilton County Player of the Year Donovan Hamilton, now a senior. The wide receiver made 50 catches for the Royals, including 10 for touchdowns. Also returning is senior halfback Jalen Alexander, who blazed his way to 1,533 rushing yards last season – an average of 110 yards per game – and scored 15 touchdowns.
Junior Azariah Wallace is also back on the rushing side. He put up solid numbers as well, with 515 yards and eight touchdowns. The starting quarterback for Southeastern is junior Chandler Weston, who played several games last year as a sophomore.
Senior Silas Newton is another wide receiver coming back; he had 14 catches, two for TDs last fall. Senior Kameron Anthony will get his first significant wide receiver call this season. A key return on the offensive line is senior Styles Prescod at left tackle. He will be joined by fellow seniors Reed Alexander at left guard, Will Irish at center and Ben Weaver at right guard, with junior Cameron Gorin at right tackle.
The Royals’ defense includes five solid seniors on the line. Jacob Seyferth brings back the most tackles from last season with 67, including 10.5 for a loss. Also returning up front are Jack Osiecki, Chidubem Okonkwo, Nate Ingalls and Anthony Reynolds. Another defender, senior Judah Parker, had 54 stops last season, while senior Donovan Rhodes made 42 tackles.
Kelly said his team has “had a good summer” and is looking forward to “seeing what this team will accomplish. We have been working to develop a culture of team, hard work, and mental/physical toughness.”
After starting against Carroll, Southeastern will travel to North Central for its Week 2 game on Aug. 25. The Royals then begin Hoosier Crossroads Conference play Sept. 1 against Avon before traveling to Fishers on Sept. 8 for the Mudsock game.