The South Hamilton Hawks football team returns to action on Friday night, as they host the Ogden Bulldogs for homecoming at Bill Taylor Field in Class 1A, District 7 action. South Hamilton enters Friday with a 2-3 record, while Ogden enters at 1-4. South Hamilton won last year’s meeting in Ogden by a score of 36-0, and leads the all-time series 21-9, dating back to 1964.
Ogden enters Friday’s game with South Hamilton holding a 1-4 record, with their lone win coming against Grand View Christian, and losses to AC/GC, Manson-Northwest Webster, Perry and a recent 49-20 drubbing from Woodward-Granger. The Bulldogs passing attack has been the focal point of the offense thus far, as junior quarterback CeJay Jones has thrown for 754 yards and 5 touchdowns with 6 interceptions. Jones’s favorite target has been junior fullback Cayden Dudley, has caught 14 passes for 107 yards. The Bulldogs do have a handful of young, explosive playmakers as freshman Tyler Lass has caught 9 passes for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns, fellow freshman Weston Sundell has 7 receptions for 157 yards and 2 touchdowns, and sophomore Brayden Miller has 7 receptions for 200 yards and a touchdown. Cayden Dudley is also the focal point of the rushing attack, running for 313 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Vandon Roosa has gotten 30 carries on the season as well. The offensive line does have veterans up front in seniors Brock Crosman, Owen Bergstrom and Carson Crane.
Defensively, the Bulldogs front seven has put in a lot of work, especially junior linebacker Carson Mueggenberg and junior defensive end Cayden Dudley. Mueggenberg has been one of the top tacklers in Class 1A this season, leading the team with 53.5 tackles and 3 tackles for loss. Dudley has been the head of the defensive line unit, amassing 35.5 tackles with 9.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. Sophomore Landon Alexander has also been productive on the defensive line with 20 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack. The defensive backfield is an inexperienced one, as junior Keagan Ristvedt and freshman Weston Sundell each have an interception, as Brayden Miller leads the unit with 14.5 tackles.
South Hamilton has begun district play 2-0 with decisive wins over West Central Valley and Nodaway Valley, as Ogden presents more of a physical challenge for the Hawks than the past two weeks. The rushing attack appeared to find its footing with Nick Severseike and Kolby Hodnefield both going over 100 yards in the win over Nodaway Valley. Defensively, the Hawks secondary will be put to the test with the Bulldogs propensity to throw the football.
Kickoff is slated for 7 PM on Friday Night at Bill Taylor Field in Jewell, the game can be heard on 95.7 KQWC or streaming online at kqradio.com.