The Press-Dispatch
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The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, October 16, 2019 B-1 SPORTS Submit sports items: Call: 812-354-8500 Email: sports@pressdispatch.net or bring in a hard copy: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net Southridge (7-1, 5 -1 Pocket Ath- letic Conference) returned three fumbles for touchdowns in a 70 - 3 win over Pike Central (0 -8, 0 -6 PAC) on Friday, Oct. 11 at SHS. However, the Chargers did play one of their best games defensive- ly, considering the circumstances, and limited the Raiders to only 214 total yards. "Defensively, our players did a really good job of fitting up the run," Pike Central head coach Dave Stephens said. "We just to have to finish it with a tackle. Play- ers were where they needed to be. They just have to finish and exe- cute, especially when you're play- ing a misdirection wing-t team." Stephens said the linebackers would have earned an A if he grad- ed them out. "They weren't fooled by the backfield direction," he said. "You can watch them on film. They were reading their under keys, they're going where they need to go and they're fitting up the run the right way. I was really happy with the play of my linebackers." As good as Pike Central's de- fense was, Southridge's tackles and tight ends were better and es- tablished the line of scrimmage. "There are times where our de- fensive end was driven into our linebackers," Stephens said. "They did a great job of establishing phys- icality at the line of scrimmage when they were on offense." On defense, the Raiders did an excellent job of shedding blocks and demonstrated strong wrap- up tackling fundamentals. "We just weren't able to sustain blocks," Stephens said. "That's a credit to them. They are a good weight room team, and you real- ly could tell that there were some weight room-type wins for them on the field." The Chargers went three-and- out on the first drive of the game. Yet, Pike Central's offense marched down the field and showed some of its potential on a 12-play, 62-yard drive that was capped off by a 26 -yard field goal by Garrett Boyd after Southridge scored a touchdown on its open- ing drive. By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net Some dropped to their knees in exhaustion, others gasped for air and a few even became physically ill, but one thing was clear, the Pike Central girls' cross coun- try team held nothing back during the IHSA A Section- al 31 Meet on Saturday, Oct. 12 at South Knox. All seven of the Lady Char- gers' runners finished in the top 32 and the team finished fourth with 92 total points, which qualified them for the regional meet on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Prides Creek Park. "The girls did a phenom- enal job of sticking to their game plan today," Pike Central coach Josh Roach said. "We have been chas- ing Princeton and Gibson [Southern], and gaining ground on them for a while. We know that they are two talented teams and the girls have done a great job ap- proaching the challenge to catch them. We were just two points out from beating both of them. We get anoth- er week to improve and now we get to add a couple more teams. It's a lot of fun watch- ing these girls compete." Lady Chargers' runners advance to regional Pike Central Middle School tennis awards FUMBLE-ITIS AILS CHARGERS AGAINST RAIDERS Pike Central's Char- lotte Dudenhoeffer competes during the IHSA A Sectional 31 Meet at South Knox High School on Satur- day, Oct. 12. The Chargers attempt to block an extra point at Southridge on Friday, Oct. 11. Pike Central's Cody Davis returns an interception at South- ridge on Friday, Oct. 11. Pike Central's Ethan Gorby com- petes during the IH- SA A Sectional 31 Meet at South Knox High School on Satur- day, Oct. 12. Pike Central's Alli Holder takes a shot during the first round of the IHSA A Sectional 30 Tournament against Princeton on Tuesday, Oct. 8. The Pike Central Middle School tennis team finished this past season with 6 -5 overall record. Chargers coach Phil Knust recently released the awards for this past season. Dietrich Dunigan, Park- er Knust, Eli Arnold, Car- ter McCain, Carter Black- well and Nolan Bailey re- ceived the Academic Award after each finished with a 4.0 GPA (straight As). J.J. Belmore earned the award for the most singles wins with nine. Adon Le- mond and Jayden Bolin earned the award for the most doubles wins with two. Other team members in- cluded Jayden Baugh, Car- ter McCain, Llinkyn Knust and Alex Gray. Chargers 7th at sectional Sends three individuals to regional By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net The Pike Central boys' cross country season came to an end with a seventh-place finish at the IHSA A Section- al 31 Meet at South Knox on Saturday, Oct. 12. The Chargers weren't one of the top five teams that ad- vances to the regional, but Nate Woolery, Peyton Chan- No. 4 Washington eliminates Pike Central Pair of Chargers earn postseason accolades By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net The Pike Central boys' soccer season came to an end on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at the hands of Class 2A No. 4 Washington (16 -3-1). The Hatchets won 7-0 against the Chargers (11-7- 1) in the semifinals of the IHSA A Sectional 30 Tourna- ment at Washington. Howev- er, on a positive note, it was Pike Central's fifth consec- utive season finishing with 10 or more wins. "We fought through some adversity this season, and had more kids out with inju- ries than any past years I can remember," Pike Central head coach Jacob Western said. "The boys still were able to bring energy to prac- tice everyday, even when we had four or five starters out. We set some goals in the preseason that we unfortu- nately did not meet, but that did not change how we felt about the season, it was a success because we contin- ued to get better, and really enjoyed the time we spent to- gether." The Chargers really start- ed to find their groove down the final stretch of the sea- son when they were healthy. The team finished the reg- ular season on a five-game winning streak that includ- ed wins over state-ranked Gibson Southern and South- ridge in penalty kicks. "These were two of the most memorable games for me, because it took all 80 minutes, and 94 in the Southridge game, to find a way to win," Western said. "One of the biggest take- aways for me was that we have really good kids. They were asked to help in the concession stands, and with youth camps, and reff- ing middle school or youth games, and we always had tons of kids volunteering. The kids really understand that this program is bigger than them." Pike Central had 10 play- ers score 45 total goals this season, while surrendering just 29. The team also had 15 different individuals record an assist this season. The Pocket Athlet- ic Conference announced on Tuesday the Chargers' Ethan Scott had been se- lected All-Conference and Gabe Caldwell was honor- able mention. Scott led the team in goals (19) and as- sists (10). He scored 48 to- tal points. Caldwell scored three goals and dished out three assists. Trio of seniors earn first team All-PAC honors By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net The Pike Central girls' soccer season ended with a narrow 2-1 loss to Prince- ton (6 -9 -3) in the first round of the IH- SA A Sectional 30 Tournament at Jasper on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Chargers' (9 -7-2) senior Chloe Roy assisted fellow senior Adair Kubrick for the Chargers' lone goal against the Ti- gers. "We were fortunate to have a very good group of senior girls," Pike Central head coach Chad Western said. "This group will be missed for their leader- ship, attitude and effort. We were so lucky to have each of these young adults show us how to compete. "They all competed and did what we Princeton edges Pike Central in sectional opener See ADVANCE on 4 See FUMBLE on 3 See SEVENTH on 4 See ELIMINATE on 3 See OPENER on 2