Stretch run starts with Week 7
Sep. 27—Washington and North Daviess split on Friday, with the Hatchets coming up with a Homecoming win over Pike Central, and ND falling on the road to West Washington. This week WHS stays at home to face 3A No.5 Gibson Southern and the Cougars make the long trek to North Decatur.
WHS v. Gibson Southern
The Hatchets stay at home this week as they face one of the area's best in Gibson Southern.
The Titans come in with a 4-2 record after a close win over Heritage Hills, 31-28 last week. The only Titan losses have come to powerhouse Kentucky programs Boyle County and South Warren. They have beaten Heritage Hills, Southridge and Princeton from the PAC and cross border rival Mt. Carmel (Ill.).
In the three seasons the Titans have played Washington, they've won 57-20, 68-6 and 49-0. The also beat the Hatchets in the 2018 sectional, 54-6, but WHS did beat them in the 2009 sectional. Gibson Southern won a state title in 2021 under current coach Nick Hart.
"We know they will be consistent and we will see that for the next three weeks. We know we are better than 2-4 and we feel like we have to be able to beat teams like Gibson Southern, Boonville and Heritage Hills if we want to seriously move to that level. Their offense starts with running back Sean DeLong. He is a multi-sport kid and he is one of the hardest workers out there and a great kid," said WHS coach Joe Morris. "Their quarterback Tanner Boyd stepped up after Brady Allen graduated. He can run and throw and is part of a real two-headed monster in the backfield."
Delong is averaging around 100 yards a game and Boyd is running for around 81. Beau Rose is leading the defense with around 12 tackles a game and four sacks and causing for fumbles.
The Hatchets are 2-4 after beating Pike, 41-13 last week at the re-dedication of New Hatchet Hollow in front of what had to have been the biggest crowd in two decades.
"I don't know how many were there, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was 3,000 people," said Morris.
WHS had two touchdowns from Xavion Lesure and a 92-yard run back from Rylan Memering. He had a 91-yard runback last year as well against Gibson Southern. Colton Stowers was 11-19 through the air for 80 yards on the ground, WHS had 280 yards and four TDs. Lesure led with 112 yards.
"We had a night where we finished. We have had some games where we didn't finish, but last week we did. We weren't perfect, but we finished and that's a big step.We told our kids that for them to win, they would have to step up in every way to give us a chance," said Morris.
Kick off will be at 7:30 p.m.
WHS youth football fundraiser
The WHS football Class of 2001 will be holding a pulled pork and turkey tenderloin dinner before the Gibson Southern game, located between Hatchet Hollow and the National Guard Armory on Friday. The recipient of the proceeds will be the Hatchet Youth Football Program, as they are hoping to raise $40,000 for new equipment. They have already raised $28,000 and hope that this Friday will push them over the goal.
"We will have 400 lbs. of pulled pork and 200 lbs. of turkey tenderloins, and each meal will be a $10 donation," said Kory Coleman, one of the organizers from the class of 2001 football team.
"We (the class of 2001 team) didn't contribute a lot of wins, so we thought this would be a good way to help," he joked.
"It costs about $500 per player for equipment and if we meet our goal, we can pretty much outfit every player in the youth program, along with having money to help sending players to camps. This is much needed. Coach Morris was very excited about this, especially to go along with all the improvements to the facilities, this seemed like the right time."
There will be a large green tent set up outside of the armory and there will be piggy banks available along with Venmo for those who just want to donate.
ND at North Decatur
The Cougars suffered a 33-12 loss to West Washington on Friday and will take another long road trip to North Decatur this week.
"We just didn't get off the bus last week. We played a little better in the second half but we have to find a way to be ready when we get off the bus, because we have another two-hour bus ride this week," said ND coach Trent Fine.
North Decatur is currently 3-3 with wins over South Decatur, Monroe Central and Shenandoah, but losses to Eastern Hancock, Lapel and Edinburgh (26-24 last week).
Long-time Decatur coach Steve Stirn is 68-33 in his ninth year after falling in semi-state last season during a 13-1 season. They have played ND in each of the last three years and won each time.
Coltyn McNabb added two more touchdowns last week and now has 13 for the season, as he is averaging 160 yards per game. Brock Knepp has now thrown 10 touchdown passes, hitting Drew Boyd three times and Wyatt Bishop four.
Zeb Owens is leading the team with 11 tackles a game, while Brees Wolford is leading the pass rush.
North Decatur is led by Mason Morris who has a completion rate of just about 70 percent and thrown for 9 TDs, Cooper Parmer and Kaden Muckerheide are his primary targets, while Corbin Thackery had 81 yards on the ground and is averaging 76 per game.
"Parmer is very quick and he can be trouble. They have a lot of new faces, but they have the same look as previous teams and that is the goal of good programs," said Fine.
"We know we will see lots of formations from them, but we think we can compete."
Kickoff will be at 7 p.m.
