The South Hamilton Hawks football team returns to action on Friday night, as they open Class 1A, District 7 play by hosting the West Central Valley Wildcats at Bill Taylor Field in Jewell. South Hamilton enters after winning last year’s meeting in Stuart by a score of 56-8, and holding a 3-0 all-time series lead.
West Central Valley enters Friday with a record of 2-1, following close wins over Panorama and Shenandoah, and fresh off a 30-22 loss at the hands of Red Oak. Colton Lindsay has stepped up as the new signal-caller of the Wildcats offense, as the sophomore has thrown for 261 yards and 3 touchdowns, while rushing for another 84 yards and 3 scores. Fellow sophomore Garret Wolfe has been his favorite target, catching 6 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. The Wildcats have had a two-headed monster at running back with senior Trenton Naragon and junior Jarel Madison. Naragon has rushed for 250 yards and 3 touchdowns on 40 carries, while Madison has rushed for 217 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries. The offensive line is led by a veteran nucleus of seniors Marshall Dickson, Zach Teague and Tyler Abbott.
Defensively, the front seven have been the story thus far for the Wildcats, led by a linebacking core consisting of Jarel Madison, Jordon Robinson and Roman Hammnond, all of whom have recorded double-digit tackles through the first 3 games. Madison and Robinson have been able to make noise in the back field, as Madison has 3.5 tackles for loss, while Robinson has 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack. The defensive line is a veteran one, led by seniors Micah Speichenger, Marshall Dickson and Zach Teague, as Dickson leads the unit with 16 tackles and a tackle for loss. The defensive backfield has experience with Trenton Naragon leading the group with 11.5 tackles, while senior cornerback Brogan Wolfe leads the Wildcats with 2 interceptions.
South Hamilton will look to right the ship after a rocky non-district slate with stiff competition the first 3 weeks. The Hawks hope to get Ashton Williams back from injury at fullback, while also hoping to get Nick Severseike and Kolby Hodnefield going in the running game. Defensively, the Hawks will needs to prove their toughness in the front seven to slowdown the Wildcats Wing T attack.
Kickoff is slated for 7 PM on Friday Night from Bill Taylor Field in Jewell.