The South Hamilton Hawks football team returns to action on Friday night, as they hit the road west on Highway 175 to take on the Southeast Valley Jaguars at the Southeast Valley Football Complex in Gowrie. Friday’s meeting is the first ever meeting between the two programs, although South Hamilton holds a 19-14-1 lead over the former Prairie Valley/Prairie High from Gowrie.
Southeast Valley enters Friday night with a 1-1 record, boasting a week 1 win over Manson-Northwest Webster 34-13, as the Jaguars lost to (1A) #9 Emmetsburg in a tight one by a score of 34-27. Southeast Valley once again has used two different quarterbacks throughout the first 2 games, as junior Mason Bahr has thrown for 236 yards and 2 touchdowns, while rushing for 111 yards and a score. Fellow junior Casey Hanson has thrown for 161 yards and 3 touchdowns, while rushing for 40 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Jaguars top receiver has been junior Bryce Harrison, who’s caught 9 balls for 195 yards and 2 scores, while junior receiver Logan Jaeschke has 12 catches for 154 yards and 3 touchdowns. Drew Temple has been the Jaguars lead back, rushing for 48 yards and a touchdown so far.
Defensively, the Jaguars linebacking unit has been stout so far this season, led by junior Ian Brunner, who’s tallied 8.5 tackles, 2 sacks and 2 TFL, as Drew Tempel leads the unit with 12.5 tackles and 1.5 TFL and Deegan Brandel has 10.5 tackles and 2 TFL. Southeast Valley’s secondary has been highlighted their safety’s, as Bryce Harrison leads the team in tackles with 13, while Logan Jaeschke has 10.5 tackles, a sack, a TFL and an interception. The defensive line has been led by the likes of Korbin Spangler, Clay Lambert and Joe Kauffman.
South Hamilton will try to rebound after a gut-wrenching loss to Panorama in Week 2, as the Hawks should get a boost with fullback and linebacker Jose Babcock coming back after missing the first 2 weeks. The Hawks defense showed flashes of promised against Panorama, but will need to take another step forward against a talented Southeast Valley squad.
Kickoff is slated for 7 PM on Friday Night from the Southeast Valley Football Complex in Gowrie.