The South Hamilton Hawks football team returns to action on Friday night, as they host their Class 1A 1st Round playoff game, welcoming in the Sioux Central Rebels out of Class 1A, District 2 at Bill Taylor Field in Jewell. South Hamilton enters at 4-4, while Sioux Central enters at 5-3. Friday’s meeting will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools in football.
Sioux Central enters Friday’s game with a record of 5-3, as they finished 3rd in District 2, with wins over South O’Brien, Lawton-Bronson, Eagle Grove, Pocahontas Area and East Sac County. The Rebels offense is a ground-based attack for Brandon Goodchild’s squad, utilizing the same “Sprint-T” offense utilized by his father Klint Goodchild at Clay Central-Everly and his uncle, the late Koy Goodchild of West Bend-Mallard. The Rebels top rusher this season has been senior back Kinnick Fahrenkrog, who’s rushed for just under 1,000 yards and 17 touchdowns. Quarterback Owen Mills has been an effective dual-threat, throwing for 246 yards and a pair of scores, while rushing for 781 yards and 9 touchdowns. Hunter Cooper has added 248 yards on the ground, while Michael Buettner has added 186 yards. Tight end Titus Koster has been the top receiver, catching 6 passes for 103 yards and a score.
Defensively, the bell cow for the Rebels is senior Kinnick Fahrenkrog, who’s amassed a 1A-high 89 tackles on the season, with 7 tackles for loss. Remington McGregor has added 28.5 tackles, while Michael Buettner has tallied 23.5 tackles and 2.5 TFL. The defensive backfield has been highly productive, as senior Ethyn Wilson leads the unit with 3 interceptions and 22 tackles. Owen Mills leads the secondary with 41 tackles and 2.5 TFL, while Gavin Casey has 36.5 tackles and 1.5 sacks. The defensive line has been a solid group, as Connor Brown leads the unit with 25 tackles, while Titus Koster leads the group with 3.5 TFL, and Korbin Friedrich has a unit-high 2 sacks.
South Hamilton saved their top-rushing performance of the season for Week 8, racking up nearly 600 yards on the ground in their 56-21 win over the aerial-minded Thunder of Grand View Christian. The Hawks are hoping for a healthier Braden Young for Round 1, as Nick Severseike, Kolby Hodnefield and Ashton Williams are playing their best ball heading into the postseason. The key for the South Hamilton defense will be keeping the Sioux Central rushing attack behind schedule.
Kickoff is slated for 7 PM at Bill Taylor Field on Friday Night, the game can be heard on 95.7 KQWC or streaming online at kqradio.com.