The Press-Dispatch

August 19, 2020

The Press-Dispatch

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FOOTBALL FROM PAGE 1 The Press-Dispatch Fall Sports Preview Wednesday, August 19, 2020 D-5 and is instinctive. He moves like a 200 -pounder instead of 220 -pounder. I just wish he wasn't a senior and we could have him for more than one sea- son," said Stephens. Colson Dillard will be playing the "Sam" linebacker position. In Stephens' defense, the Sam position is a hybrid lineback- er/safety. If there is pass cov- erage responsibility, he gets it. "He is a great athlete who can play in space. He played safety the last two years. With his im- proved strength and size, he can come down and play linebacker for us." Freshman Arri McDonald is getting the nod at cornerback. "He is a guy who is good enough to play on Friday night. He will be an absolute stud as he gets older. He is fearless and as hard working as they come." The boundary safety will be Jon Cannon. "He is a kid I have been trying to recruit. He is a stud wrestler and we finally talk- ed him into playing football. . . He is an in-the-box and smack- you-in-the-mouth safety." At the other safety is sopho- more Braden Howald. "He has football in his veins. A lot of kids are casual football fans. He loves football. When you watch him play, it is evident he loves to pay. He will stick the ball carrier." Stephens said when the weight room opened up after being shut down for COVID, Howald was the first guy back in the room. "When it was closed, he was working out and doing push-ups on his own." "I can't say enough positive things about him. He might be the most coachable kid I have ev- er coached in 20 years." At the other cornerback po- sition will be Tyrus Schoppen- horst. He is another new addi- tion to the team. Stephens said Schoppenhorst played for Pike Central as an eighth grader, then his family moved to Wood Memorial. They moved back this year. "He is fast and explosive. He has all the skills to be success- ful. He is tough, probably only weighs 140, but not afraid to mix it up physically." "I have prayed we don't lose this football season (to COVID) because I want this community to see this team. They are going to see a difference in what they have seen the last two years. We are going to be a much better team. I have no doubts we are going to do that this year. I hope we get an opportunity to demon- strate that," said Stephens. LARS UTTERBACK Boys' Varsity Football Day/Date Time Event Location H/A Fri.....8/21 ..... 7:00 PM .......Brown County...................................Weathers Field .................................Home Fri.....8/28 ..... 7:30 PM .......Tecumseh ........................................Tecumseh MS/HS ............................. Away Fri.....9/4 ....... 7:30 PM .......South Spencer .................................South Spencer HS ............................ Away Fri.....9/11 ..... 7:00 PM .......Southridge .......................................Pike Central MS/HS ..........................Home Fri.....9/18 ..... 7:00 PM .......Washington .....................................Washington HS ................................. Away Fri.....9/25 ..... 7:00 PM .......North Knox ......................................Weathers Field .................................Home Fri.....10/2 ..... 7:30 PM .......Tell City ...........................................Tell City HS ....................................... Away Fri.....10/9 ..... 7:00 PM .......Forest Park ......................................Weathers Field .................................Home Fri.....10/16 ... 7:30 PM .......North Posey .....................................North Posey HS ................................ Away Boys' JV Football Mon ..8/31 ..... 6:30 PM ......Tecumseh ........................................Pike Central MS/HS ..........................Home Mon ..9/7 ....... 6:30 PM ......South Spencer .................................Pike Central MS/HS ..........................Home Mon ..9/14 ..... 6:00 PM ......Southridge .......................................Southridge HS .................................. Away Mon ..9/21 ..... 6:00 PM ......Washington .....................................Pike Central MS/HS ..........................Home Mon ..9/28 ..... 6:00 PM ......North Knox ......................................North Knox Jr-Sr HS ......................... Away Mon ..10/5 ..... 6:30 PM ......Tell City ...........................................Pike Central MS/HS ..........................Home Mon ..10/12 ... 6:30 PM ......Forest Park ......................................Forest Park Jr-Sr HS......................... Away Mon ..10/19 ... 6:30 PM ......North Posey .....................................Pike Central HS ................................Home CHARGERS TENNIS Huck stands alone for Pike Central By Alden Heuring It's an unprecedented time for Pike Central tennis: senior Ethan Huck is the only player on the team's roster this year. But as a seven-year player and strong singles contender, Huck is more than enough to give lo- cal tennis fans a team to root for, coach Brent Beck said. "He's spent the time. He was with us all through mid- dle school and even came out to practice during the pan- demic. He deserves to play, and [athletic director] Dustin Powell has done a good job set- ting up matches for him." And those matches will have plenty of drama, as Huck's years of effort will make him a strong competitor this season. "He's a very athletic kid, quick, good footwork, covers a lot of the court," Beck said. "He has a really well-balanced game, and can come to the net as a singles player... I'm real- ly looking forward to watching him compete." Huck and Beck will be trav- eling for every match, starting with Mount Vernon and Gib- son Southern. As for the post- season? "This is all uncharted terri- tory," Beck said. "We are work- ing on what his options will be in tournament play, but at this stage, it's all speculation." For example, since Huck is the first singles player for Pike Central, if he is allowed to com- pete in the sectional and goes undefeated, he could advance as an individual to the region- als, per the 2019 IHSA A coach- es' handbook page 26. Howev- er, a one-man team does not meet any of the allowed team configurations specified in the same handbook, page 24, so some kind of exception would have to be granted for Huck to join the tournament. So what will happen to Pike Central tennis after Huck grad- uates? Look to the middle school program, where coach Phil Knust and Beck have worked to develop a strong class of eighth graders who, Beck believes, will reform the team from whole cloth. "The last couple years have been a struggle getting kids to come out, and not just for ten- nis," Beck said. "Our saving grace is the middle school pro- gram, which is in great shape. We've got a strong group of eighth graders... I think we will be building from here," Beck said. "Our middle school program is really starting to peak. We're getting lots of ath- letes, multi-sport athletes, and parents who are willing to step in and help the program grow." But in the moment, Beck said he's just excited to see Huck compete. "I'm ready to get going," he said. "My girls' team had their season wiped out. I've been away from the kids for four months... I think some re- al competition will be good for everybody." Boys' Varsity Tennis Day/Date Time Event Location H/A Wed ..8/19 ..... 5:30 PM ......North Posey .....................................Pike Central HS ................................Home Mon ..8/24 ..... 5:30 PM ......Gibson Southern ..............................Pike Central HS ................................Home Wed ..8/26 ..... 5:30 PM ......Tecumseh ........................................Tecumseh MS/HS ............................. Away Tue ...9/1 ....... 4:30 PM ......Washington .....................................Pike Central HS ................................Home Wed ..9/2 ....... 5:30 PM ......South Spencer .................................South Spencer HS ............................ Away Thu ...9/3 ....... 5:30 PM ......Waldo J Wood Memorial ...................Waldo J Wood Memorial HS.............. Away Tue ...9/8 ....... 5:00 PM ......South Knox ......................................Pike Central HS ................................Home Wed ..9/9 ....... 4:30 PM ......Southridge .......................................Pike Central HS ................................Home Thu ...9/10 ..... 5:30 PM ......Tell City ...........................................Pike Central HS ................................Home Mon ..9/14 ..... 5:00 PM ......Forest Park ......................................Forest Park Jr-Sr HS......................... Away Thu ...9/17 ..... 5:30 PM ......Boonville .........................................Boonville HS ..................................... Away Sat ...9/19 ..... 10:00 AM ....Vincennes Toruney ...........................Vincennes Lincoln ............................ Away Mon ..9/21 ..... 5:30 PM ......Heritage Hills ...................................Heritage Hills MS/HS ........................ Away Tue ...9/22 ..... 5:30 PM ......Princeton Comm ..............................Pike Central MS/HS ..........................Home Thu ...9/24 ..... 5:00 PM ......Vincennes Lincoln ...........................Vincennes Lincoln HS ....................... Away Wed ..9/30 ..... 5:00 PM ......Sectional ..........................................Jasper HS ......................................... Away ETHAN HUCK Chargers! Locally Owned and Operated Dr. Clint Shoultz 715 S. 9th Street, Petersburg • (812) 354-9400 Mon. 8am-7pm, Tues. 8am-noon, Wed. 10am-7pm, Thurs-Fri. 8am-5pm call for an appointment or come in and check out our selection. 12TH & MAIN STREETS, PETERSBURG 812-354-6000 FICKLIN AUTO SUPPLY GOOD LUCK CHARGERS! WE WISH YOU A VERY SUCCESSFUL SEASON! WE HAVE QUALITY PARTS FOR DOMESTIC VEHICLES AND IMPORTS, TOO! NOW YOUR AREA'S EXCLUSIVE NAPA DEALER! Whether you're a trained athlete or a weekend warrior, you can count on the experienced orthopedic and sports medicine specialists at Gibson General Hospital to get you back in the game. Our program offers orthopedic treatment and rehabilitation to care for your sports injuries. And we'll teach you how to prevent further injuries and improve performance to help you stay in the game! High Quality Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Care. Close to Home. High Quality Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Care. Close to Home. Whether you're a trained athlete or a weekend warrior, you can count on experienced orthopedic & sports medicine specialists at Gibson General Hospital to get you back in the game. Through a partnership with Joseph Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center, integrated program offers orthopedic treatment and rehabilitation to care your sports injuries. And we'll teach you how to prevent further injuries improve performance to help you stay in the game! Centered Around You. Proud provider of athletic training service to Gibson County schools.

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