The Press-Dispatch
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SPORTS Submit sports items: Call: 812-354-8500 Email: sports@pressdispatch.net or bring in a hard copy: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg Chargers rack up eleven touchdowns in preseason scrimmage against Crawford County Wolfpack By Arri McDonald Press-Dispatch Sports sports@pressdispatch.net Pike Central head football coach Kelly Brashear said he was looking for his team to stick to the basics and create positive energy, prior to its scrimmage last Friday night at Weather's Field against Craw- ford County. When the scrimmage was over, he admitted that there were many reasons to be posi- tive about the program that he is building in its second year under his leadership, after tak- ing over a struggling program under former head coach Dave Stephens. In a controlled format where each team receives five separate possessions from dif- ferent points on the football field, the Chargers scored 11 touchdowns, holding Craw- ford County to 3. With the dominant team effort, there were several outstanding in- dividual performances. None more so than senior Braden Howald, who scored by rush, reception, defensive intercep- tion and even with his arm, passing for two touchdowns while playing quarterback at the end of the night with the younger Chargers. In a post-game inter view, Coach Brashear said his of- fense started slowly but "kept getting better and better with ever y series". In fact, if the Chargers offense did start slowly, the defense bailed them out early with Skylar Shelton sacking the Wolfpack quarterback on fourth down. As Crawford County went back on offense, the Chargers extended their drive with a roughing the passer penalty, later yielding a 23-yard pass on the right sideline to the Char- ger 17 yard line. However, the Charger defense managed to hold the Wolfpack, forcing an incompletion on fourth and six, stopping the drive. The next two Wolfpack pos- sessions ended in intercep- tions: first by Charger senior Jagar Dent, and then by How- ald, who returned the inter- ception 46 yards for the first Charger touchdown. After the Charger offense took the field, penalties, sacks, and a fumbled snap halted their first two drives. Each team's offense failed to score during the first period from its own thirty-five. The goal-to-go period pro- vided Crawford County's turn for a series of plays from the Charger ten yard line. The Charger defense produced a turnover on downs as a Wolf- pack receiver was stopped at the four yard line on fourth and 11. On the next series, Crawford County's offense fi- nally came to life as it scored on a quarterback keeper from 2 yards. The teams were even at one score apiece. The Chargers offense went to work as it took the field at the Wolfpack ten yard line. Se- nior Nate Kell punched in the Chargers' second score from three yards. Chargers 2, Wolf- pack 1. The Chargers extended the margin on the next possession as Howald outran the Wolf- pack defense around left end from nine yards. By the time the goal-to-go offensive set was completed the Chargers had scored two more times, on a short run by Skylar Shel- ton and sophomore quarter- The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, August 17, 2022 B-1 Chargers open tennis with 3-2 loss at Mt. Vernon By Andy Heuring Press-Dispatch Sports sports@pressdispatch.net Pike Central's boys tennis team went 2-2 in the match- es they played against Mt. Ver non, but lost the meet 3-2 because they had to for- feit the number two doubles match. "Overall we played pretty well as a team. Not a bad start for the week," said Charger coach Brent Beck. The Chargers have five sophomores and one fresh- man in their starting line-up . Eli Arnold at number one singles got off to a slow start but turned it around. After losing the opening set 6-3, he turned the momentum around in the second set winning 6-4. In the final set he cruised to a 6-1 win for the Chargers over Mt. Vernon senior Rylan Paul. "In the second set Eli got into a slug fest early on in the set and got behind, once he changed up the pace, threw in some slices, and some off- speed shots he was able to work his way back into the match," said Beck. The Chargers' number one doubles team of Parker Knust and JJ Belmore took care of business early. They won the first set 6-2 and then 6-1 in the second set over Mt. Vernon's senior Khai Willard and freshman Reese Horschburger. "Our number 1 doubles team has a lot of potential and should give us an opportunity to compete in a lot of match- es this season. Even though our kids of still ver y young, they are all experienced and we look for ward to competing this season against anyone," said Beck. Adon Lemond had a tough match at number two singles, falling 6-0, 6-2 to junior Adam Burke of Mt. Vernon. Nate Carter at number three singles had a competi- tive match with the Wildcat's senior Micha Luckett 6-4, 6-2. In junior varsity action Kaden Englert lost 6-4. Lady Chargers suffer first loss of season against Knoxes By Andy Heuring Press-Dispatch Sports sports@pressdispatch.net Pike Central girls golf team fell to North Knox and South Knox last Thursday at Prides Creek. The Lady Chargers shot their best team score of the year, a 223, but it wasn't good enough. After winning their first two matches of the year, North Knox won the triangle meet with a team 191, which was two strokes better than South Knox's 193. South Knox's Trinity Dubbs was the medalist with a 37, only one stroke off the girls' record for nine holes. Pike Central's Brailey Mills shot a 52 despite sev- en penalty shots and 10 on the ninth hole. Her round also included a birdie on hole 2. Chloe Williams brought home a 55 for the Char- gers, while Mabrey Shoul- tz had a 56. Grace Good- pasture shot a 60 to round out the team score. Addy Russell had a 61. Pike Central's Nate Carter at number three singles starts a forehand swing during his match in the Pike Central-Wood Memorial scirmmage last Thursday. Charger Adon Lemond hits a backhand during his number two singles match in the Pike Central-Wood Memori- al scrimmage last week. Weisman 5th in 49-team meet at PC cross country opener By Andy Heuring Press-Dispatch Sports sports@pressdispatch.net Pike Central opened their cross countr y season by competing in the Valley Kick-off in Terre Haute on Saturday against 48 other teams. It was hosted on the state finals course, which has also hosted the NCAA's finals. "It was a great meet allow- ing for many of our runners a chance to compete on the State Finals course. There was some great competition and it allowed us an early look to see where we are right now." "We had several runners who competed in their first-ever race and we saw much improvement out of several of our returnees," said Charger Cross Countr y Coach Randy Graham. Xavier Weisman placed fifth in the meet with a time of 19:42 .2, just three sec- onds out of fourth. She was leading at the 1K mark and had the same time as the leader at the 3K mark and was just one second off the lead at the 4K mark. She was the highest fin- ishing sophomore in the meet. Junior Anna Whitehead gave the Chargers two run- ners in the top 75 as she Braden Howald avoids tacklers and head for touchdown after incepting a pass. See R ACK on page 2 See MEET on page 3