The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1412732
B-6 Wednesday, September 22, 2021 The Press-Dispatch REGIONAL Continued VICTORY Continued from page 1 In the third quarter of the game, the Chargers held the score 16 -0, fighting back the Washington Hatchets, and pressing forward for the touchdown, but never quite making it that quarter. Then in the fourth quarter, with 9:34 on the scoreboard, Howald ran the ball through Washington with the help of the lineman for a 60 -yard touchdown. Meadows fol- lowed that up with a pass to Howald for a good PAT, leav- ing the score at a staggering 24-0. But there was still game time left in the fourth quarter and anything could happen. The Washington Hatchets' Perkins slipped by the Char- gers with 6:15 on the score- board, making a seven-yard run-in for the touchdown. The Hatchets missed the PAT with a failed pass, making the score 24-6. The Chargers seemed to be wearing down and Wash- ington took advantage of that. Scoring another touchdown with a six-yard run-in, but missing the PAT again with a failed pass, leaving the score at 24-12. The Chargers realized what was going on and pulled to- gether to hold the Hatchets scoreless for the rest of the quarter, clinching the win against them by a score of 24- 12. The stands went crazy with celebration and cheering. The student section ran through silly-string to the Chargers on the field to join in their cel- ebration. The Chargers won the somewhat elusive Bur- gundy and Gold trophy back from Washington. They have not won this trophy back since 2004. It now will get to stay at Pike Central to commemorate their win until next season, when Washington will have a chance to win it back again. Head Coach Kelly Brasher commented on the game say- ing, "I think the kids played excellent. I kind of started to wander there when they made a couple of quick scores back to back. But in our defense, we have so many kids playing block both ways. It was real- ly muggy tonight and hot. So you know, you're sweating like crazy, and we were just gassed in the fourth quarter. But they found that extra energy to fin- ish the game and get two de- fensive stops at the end." "I thought JJ, Coach How- ald, had an excellent game plan, defensively, for us and the kids executed it so well." "Just really proud of our ef- fort, our intensity, our fight, our grit, all of those things. This one is the first won for most of these kids. So they don't know what this feels like." "I was really, really im- pressed tonight with our fan base, the stands were packed. We had a whiteout down there with the students. We proba- bly had over 150 students. That's so great to see, to back the kids, so that our football team knows that our student body cares about them and that they are worthy of being supported by them." STATS Passing: Meadows had 6 - 7 for a total of 117 yards, with one touchdown. Rushing: Julian Gish had six carries for a total of 58 yards, Dent had six carries for a total of eight yards, How- ald had 14 carries for a total of 105 yards and one touchdown, and Frasure had eight carries for a total of 106 yards and one touchdown Receiving: Gish had two for a total of 89 yards and one touchdown, Frasure had one for 17 yards, Howald had two for a total of three yards, Isaac Marchino had one receive for eight yards. Punting: Gish had three punts for a total of 30 yards, Howald had one punt for a to- tal of 13 yards. The tackle leader for the night was Charger junior Bra- den Howald and the intercep- tion was junior Jagar Dent for eight yards. The Pike Central Char- gers will play their next game against North Posey on their home field for Homecoming Night on Friday, September 24 at 7 p.m. Above: The Pike Central Charger Cheer team does a lift during halftime to charge up the crowd. On the top of the lift is Alyssa Young, under her is Hannah Cassada and, as a secondary base, beside her is Ava Hudson. Right: Charger junior Isaac Marchino forces a tack- le on the Hatchets' ball carrier, with the help of fresh- man Braden Schultheis, freshman Avery Smith and junior Braden Howald, during the Pike Central foot- ball game against the Washington Hatchets on Fri- day, September 17. Above: Charger ju- nior Braden How- ald dives to tackle the Hatchets' ball carrier during the Pike Central football game against the Washington Hatch- ets on Friday, Septem- ber 17. Freshman Mat- thew Meadows heads in to help if needed. Right: Pike Central sophomore Julian Gish gets tackled out-of- bounds by a Hatchets player during the Pike Central football game against the Washing- ton Hatchets on Friday, September 17. Below: Wyatt Fra- sure, Charger senior, runs for the touchdown with the Hatchets on his tail, unsuccessful in their attempt to catch him, during the Pike Central football game against the Washing- ton Hatchets on Friday, September 17.