The Press-Dispatch
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The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, July 31, 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 If you ask Dave Stephens, there isn't a tougher player than Connor O'Neal in the entire Pocket Athlet- ic Conference. "[Connor O'Neal is] as tough as nails," the Pike Central head football coach said. "They always talk about the pound-for-pound champions. I would say pound- for-pound, he is the toughest guy in our conference." O'Neal may not be the most physically imposing player, but he plays fearlessly. "He has a great skill set," Ste- phens said. "He has the strength to block linebackers and he has the speed to burn safeties and corners. He's a difficult match- up and he's a guy who is still go- ing to get his offensive stats with teams knowing that he's our pri- mary option." When he's not making spectac- ular catches, O'Neal is also a re- lentless blocker who never shies aways from contact. "We tell our receivers, 'No block, no rock,'" Stephens said. "He leads the way because we give him the ball the most and he sets the tone. I think you have to be born with that kind of physicali- ty, and he loves the physical na- ture of the game. "He salivates at the opportunity for those big blocks. That's some- thing that is in DNA. When you see that, it's infectious. Our oth- er receivers pick up on it and they want to emulate that." Stephens believes O'Neal has a great shot at completely rewriting Pike Central's single-season and career receiving records this sea- son. A fter all, he's virtually a clone of the current record-holder, his See REWRITE on 2 See WIN on 3 See MEDIA on 2 By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net Former, current and possibly future members of the Pike Cen- tral cross country team raced in the 42nd annual Night Flight Road Run hosted by the University of Southern Indiana on Saturday, Ju- ly 27. Started by founding coach and USI Athletic Hall of Fame mem- ber Dr. Bill Stegmoller, the Night Flight is a unique opportunity to run through the USI campus un- der the stars. "It's a big team-building oppor- tunity in my eyes as far as going out and having fun together and cheering each other on," Pike Central cross country coach Josh Roach said. "Anything we can do together and build the camarade- rie is a good thing. Every time we break our huddle, we say 'family,' and that's evident by the fact that we have a former runner coming back and a future runner doing this event with us." Roach, along with Charger se- niors Nate Woolery and Sam The- ising, juniors Noah Russell and Jenna Meyer, sophomores Quin- lan Teague and Morgan Sallee and middle school team member Ky- lie Meyer competed in the contest. Pike Central graduate and Oak- land City University cross coun- try team member Halley Powers also ran in the event. "It's something we want to do because of our dedicated group of runners," Roach said. "It's kind of our end-of-the-summer event and wrap-up for all the running we have done." The four-mile course across USI's campus is longer than a typical 3.1-mile high school cross country course. "We just really enjoy the aspect of becoming closer as a family," Roach said. "The kids like com- peting and in a race like this, they can sometimes run together with someone they don't normally run with and spend some time talking to them." Woolery and Teague were Pike Central's top finishers. Woolery placed 27th overall out of 107 ath- letes with a time of 24 minutes and 40 seconds, and Teague was 49th with the time of 31:02. Other local athletes finished as followed: 55th, Russell 31:38; 66th, Theising 33:55; 70th, Pow- ers 34:54; 73rd, Kylie Meyer 36:00 ; 75th, Jenna Meyer 36:54; 83rd, Sallee 39:37; and 77th, Roach 37:54. All proceeds from the race are used to benefit the Screaming Ea- gles' cross country, and track and field programs. Cross country team builds closeness through summer running Chargers take center stage at Football Media Day O'NEAL READY TO REWRITE CHARGERS' RECORD BOOK Pike Central head coach Dave Stephens watches as senior receiver Connor O'Neal takes a jet sweep in a scrimmage at Washington High School on Thursday, July 25. The Chargers' Connor O'Neal goes up over a Washington defender to make a catch during a scrimmage against the Hatchets on Thursday at WHS. Tyler Meadors took the podium for both the "Dash for Cash" win and also the Open Division Super- cross win at the 2019 Pike County 4-H Fair Super- cross. On his right is Abigail Sutt, 2019 Miss Pike County, and on his left is Lauren Young, 2019 Teen Miss Pike County. Former and current members of the Pike Central cross country pro- gram pose for a photo before the University of Southern Indiana Night Flight Road Run on Saturday, July 27. Front row, (l to r): Halley Pow- ers, Jenna Meyer, Kylie Meyer, Morgan Sallee and Quinlan Teague; back row: Sam Thieving, Noah Russell, Nate Woolery and Pike Central coach Josh Roach. By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net With the high school sea- son set to kickoff in a few short weeks, local coaches and players gathered at the Bauerhaus in Evansville on Monday for the second annu- al High School Football Me- dia Day. Coming off a 1-9 season, Pike Central was the first team to grace the podium. Chargers head coach Dave Stephens, along with players Levi McCarter, Con- ner O'Neal and Lars Utter- back, answered questions about their expectations, goals and opinions on the upcoming season. Stephens, who is entering his second-season as head coach, was asked about the biggest differences between his first and second years. "It's night and day," Ste- phens said. "Last year, I don't think we got started until July and the kids were just learning where to line up. This year, we have had a full offseason and the kids are very comfortable in our schemes. Now they under- stand where they are lining up and what their responsi- bilities are." Stephens was asked about the team's size. Pike Central currently has less than 20 players on its roster. He said despite an overall low number of players, the team's weight room numbers have skyrock- eted during the past year. "We have a small num- ber of kids, but the kids we have are committed and I am ready to go to battle with them every Friday night," Stephens said. "The num- bers aren't where we would like them to be, but we kind of anticipated that. It's kind of a culture shock. Pike Central has been in a place where things like the offsea- son weight program was op- tional. Well we have made that to where that is not an option anymore." Stephens said he has been especially pleased with his players' mental develop- ment. "They are starting to think like we think as coaches," he said. "They have heard enough of the checks and they know if we are seeing certain coverages, fronts or alignments, they know what we are trying to achieve. To 4-H Demo Derby See the inside on page 3 Saturday's Open B class of the 2019 4-H Supercross went to Tyler Meadors, of Otwell, with Frank Pecka, of Newburgh, second and Briar Meadors, of Otwell, third. The Open C class was won by Dakota French, of Oakland City, with Kend- all Norris, of Plainville, sec- ond and Caleb Thomas, of Velpen, third. The "Dash for Cash" was won by Tyler Meadors, who took home $500. Bri- ar Meadors was second and Buck Seger, of Winslow, was third. The plus 30 class was won by Frank Pecka, with Buck Seger second and Kendall Norris third. A xl McGowan, of Oak- land City, claimed both the Lites Junior 12 to 16 class and also the 14 to 24 race. Jake Epple, of Ferdinand, was second in the 12 to 16 and Ashton Stafford, of Pe- tersburg, was third. Dako- ta French was second in the 14 to 24 and Kole Pecka, of Newburgh, was third. The 110CC class was won by Drew Dawson, of Winslow, with Cade Mor- gan, of Petersburg, sec- ond and Zack Miller, of Petersburg, third. In the small bike division, Jake Epple, of Ferdinand, won the 85cc and Kole Nossett, of Petersburg, was second. Jace Deal, of Owensville, won the 50cc race, Zaden McQueen, of Winslow, was second and Kayden Hill, of Otwell, third. This year's 4-H Super- cross brought 45 entries, Meadors wins Open and Dash for Cash