The South Hamilton Hawks football team will open their 2024 season on Friday Night, as they make the trip east on Highway 175 to take on the South Hardin Tigers in non-district action in Eldora. The all-time series between the two sits at 7-6 since South Hardin was formed in 2008, with South Hamilton winning 4 of the last 5 meetings.
South Hardin put together a young squad in 2023 that managed to qualify for the playoffs and hold their own in a very tough District 4 that included eventual state champion Grundy Center. The Tigers bring back quarterback Peyton Welch, who threw for nearly 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023, while backfield mate Jaxson Drury rushed for over 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns. The receiving core loses top target Ethan Klendworth, but Sam Benson is back after nearly 500 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns in 2023. Others to watch in the recieving core include Asher Seward, Dax Thompson and state high-jump qualifier Traven Wheeler. The offensive line is a big and beefy one, returning starters such as Dre Reisetter, Daniel Dolan and Dax Thompson.
Defensively, the back seven is where the strength of the Tigers defense resides, returning key pieces such as Ethan Lindsey, Sam Benson, Dax Thompson and Lucas Perry. Benson led the team in interceptions in 2023 with 4, while also amassing 36 tackles, 3 TFL and 2 sacks, while Lindsey and Thompson combined for over 50 tackles. Jaxson Drury looks to be the bellcow on the defensive line as the only returning starter from 2023, accruing 12 tackles and 3.5 TFL.
South Hamilton will come into Friday’s game short-handed with running back and defensive back Nick Severseike out, as the load will fall on Kolby Hodnefield, as well as Ashton Williams, Jose Babcock and quarterback Braden Young to lead the Hawks wishbone attack. It will also be game 1 for an inexperience Hawks offensive line, which looks to gel sooner rather than later.
Kickoff is slated for 7 PM on Friday Night at Tiger Field in Eldora.