WASHINGTON —
If season-opening high school football games are supposed to be the first step on the road to a successful season, both Washington and North Daviess may have missed the memo.
The Hatchets and Cougars open their seasons with home dates against teams that should be ready for the new campaign.
Boonville travels to Hatchet Hollow to not only open the season, but to also begin Big Eight Conference competition.
North Daviess welcomes Tecumseh to Cougar Valley. The Cougars topped Tecumseh twice last fall, but both games were nail biters.
The Pioneers defeated Washington, 30-27, in overtime, last fall. It was the first of two overtime wins in Big Eight games, as the Pioneers turned the same overtime trick, 27-24, at Vincennes Lincoln the following week on the way to a 7-3 and 4-2 conference record.
Boonville features three-year starter Evan Hendrickson (5-11, 175 pounds) at quarterback. He passed for 950 yards as a junior.
“Hendrickson is very poised and throws the ball very well,” Washington coach Kelly Brashear said. “They are about a 60-40 run-pass team.”
While Washington was at Gibson Southern scrimmaging last Friday, the Pioneers were tussling with Evansville Central.
“Central spread the field and threw the ball all over the place,” Brashear said. “Their (Boonville’s) run defense is really yet to be seen by us.”
While Hendrickson should have a long list of receiving targets, the Pioneers also return back Seth Lowe (5-7, 190) who missed part of the season due to injury.
Boonville also has the talents of kicker Jake McConnell, who reportedly has a 50-yard range.
Washington will have to overcome the loss of senior back Trey Parsons who will miss the first five games of the season due to a violation of the school’s athletic code.
Jaden Arvin (5-10, 175) steps into the position.
Still, Brashear liked several results witnessed at Gibson Southern, although he is hoping for a more consistent defense.
“There were times that we tended to do what we wanted to do instead of what we were coached to do,” Brashear said. “The kids sometimes tried to go around blocks and that put us in a bad position. We needed to stay in our rushing lanes a bit more.”
The Cougars face a similar quarterback challenge in Tecumseh junior Adam Grannan (6-2, 175) who gave the Cougar pass defense all it wanted last season.
The Cougars and Braves played one of the wildest second-halves seen in some time in last season’s opener before North Daviess finally prevailed 41-34. The Cougars won the second outing, 27-20, in the Class A sectional.
Tecumseh finished 2-8 last season, but Cougar coach Scott Helms is expecting an improved team this time.
“I think they graduated, maybe, four kids from last year,” Helms said. “Of those four, I think two were starters. They have every skill player back.”
Helms was impressed with what he saw from Tecumseh’s scrimmage film.
“They have a defense that looks to be very disciplined,” Helms said. “It’s not the same as last year. They flew to the ball and tackled better.”
At the same time, Helms also liked the look of his offensive line against North Knox last Friday.
“I thought we did a good job up front,” Helms said. “Our backs were a little slow to the hole early on, but I thought we did a nice job.”
North Daviess is filled with experience at offensive skill positions. Not only do the Cougars return veterans at both backs and quarterback, North Daviess may have found a new weapon in freshman tight end Shannon Chesterfield (6-4, 225).
“He has surfaced at a strong-side tight end,” Helms said. “He is very athletic and has good hands.”
Local Sports
Related Photos
-
The Washington High School football team
-
The North Daviess football team
Discussion
Local football teams have tough season openers
- Local Sports
-
-
Washington Catholic High School is seeking coaches for the fall season.
Coaching positions open include: varsity and junior varsity volleyball; junior high volleyball, and junior high boys soccer.
Persons interested in these positions should contact athletic director John Howell at 812-254-2050, or email at jhowell@evdio.org. -
Hatchets top Cougars
Washington out slugged North Daviess, 15-10, at the Sports Complex Monday.
-
Chestnut's big day lifts Vikings
Tuesday evening’s Class A Sectional 63 championship was supposed to be a battle between two bitter rivals, but it turned out to be a Viking coronation.
-
Tennis doubles sectional at Jasper
The girls tennis doubles sectional at Jasper will have an all area flavor starting this evening.
-
Vikings get 16th victory
The Barr-Reeve baseball team (16-6) defeated Southridge, 2-1, Saturday in one of its final tuneup's before the Class A Sectional at Loogootee.
-
Heller places 12th
Vincennes University freshman and former Washington High School graduate Chloe Heller placed 12th in the Women's 10000 meters at the 2013 Division I NJCAA Outdoor Track & Field National Championship.
-
Barr-Reeve upsets North Daviess in Sectional
The road to a championship almost always involves overcoming obstacles and a little bit of adversity.
-
All good things come to an end for Washington
All good things come to an end.
Heritage Hills (21-6) defeated Washington (14-9), 5-0, in the first round of the Class 3A Sectional Monday behind a dominant pitching performance from junior Kaitlin Kralj.
-
Obaseki moving up the ladder
Ben Obaseki was happy with his performance at the three-day rookie mini-camp of the Green Bay Packers. Now it is up to the Packers, or another team, to make a call.
-
Dubois wins Loogootee Sectional
For the second time this season, Northeast Dubois got the best of Barr-Reeve in girls tennis.
Northeast Dubois defeated Barr-Reeve 5-0 Thursday afternoon to win the Loogootee girls tennis sectional. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
Washington Catholic High School is seeking coaches for the fall season.
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God'
Slow Pokes: Acupuncture Helps Sick Turtles
Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm
Former IRS Chief: Can't Say How List Happened
Gov. Fallin: Okla. Facing Horrific Disaster
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out
Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado
Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado
OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded
Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
