ALAH Knights football dominates in week 7 victory

By Editor | October 15, 2024 |

By Sally McCarthy

The Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond Knights football team moved to 7-0 on the season with a 62-7 victory over the Cerro Gordo Bement Broncos on Friday, October 11 at Wilson Field. The victory also extended the regular season win streak to 21.

The Knights had seven possessions in the first half and ran just 16 plays from scrimmage that accounted for seven touchdowns and a 49-0 lead at halftime. They scored on the first play from scrimmage on three possessions, twice on the second, and once on the fourth and fifth play.

After an opening kick return of 56 yards by Knights’ sophomore Brennon Hutson to the CGB 18, senior running back Alex Rexroad scored on the first play on an 18 yard run. Kaden Herschberger kicked the extra point and the lead was 7-0 with 11:42 left in the first quarter.

On their second series, after a Bronco punt, ALAH used five plays including a nice 44 yard run by junior running back Payton Warrior that put the ball at the Bronco 6. Senior rb Maddix Stirrett would take it in for the score. He also ran in the two point conversion to put the home team up 15-0 at the 8:28 mark of the first.

After defensive back Cash Hale picked off Bronco quarterback, Cole Giberson, ALAH got another one play score, a 19 yard pass from quarterback Marcus Otto to Hale. The EP run was no good and the lead was 21-0 with 7:12 remaining in the first.

On the Broncos first play of their next series, Hale again intercepted a pass by Giberson at the CGB 37. On the first play for the Knights, Otto connected with Hale again for his second receiving touchdown of the quarter. This time the throw would be 63 yards and Herschberger kicked the EP to give ALAH a 28-0 lead at the 6:47 mark of the first.

After another turnover on downs by the Broncos, it took four plays this time for a touchdown. Junior running back Easton Frederick gained 25 yards on the first play and Trey Strode picked up 2 but a holding penalty on the third play moved the ball back to the 31. Frederick got the call on the fourth play and took it to the house from there. Another EP kick by Herschberger gave the red, black, and gold a 35-0 lead with 2:42 remaining in the first.

CGB turned the ball over on downs again and the Knights were back on offense. This time it took two plays to score. Rexroad took the ball to the Knights’ 48 on an 11 yard run and then on the second play junior running back Trey Strode took it 48 yards to the house for the Knights’ sixth td of the first quarter. Another kick by Herschberger and the lead was 42-0 with 18.9 seconds left in the first.

ALAH DB Hale came up with his third interception of the first half, a record for interceptions in one game, on CGB’s next possession. Again, it took just two plays for another Knights’ td. Senior Stirrett picked up his second touchdown of the game on a 52 yard run. The EP kick by Herschberger was good and ALAH led 49-0 at the 10:15 mark of the second.

Cerro Gordo Bement did go on a long drive to end the first half moving the ball from their own 38 to the Knights 15. On fourth and goal from there, Bronco kicker Michael Freese attempted a 32 yard field goal but it was no good and the halftime lead was 49-0 in favor of ALAH.

The second half was played with a running clock and ALAH played their second team throughout the third. In the fourth quarter, both teams were playing their jr. varsity teams.

ALAH would score twice in the second half. The first was in the third quarter on a 28 yard run by sophomore running back Brennon Hutson. Freshman Alex Olivero kicked the extra point and the lead was 56-0 with 22.2 seconds left in that quarter.

The Broncos got on the board after a long kick return by senior Mark Aubert who took the ball to the Knights’ 9. ALAH’s Daylon Doggett ran down Aubert and made a tackle at the 9 to keep CGB out of the end zone on the return. Bronco freshman quarterback Ethan Long would score on a 6 yard run with 9:51 remaining in the game. Freese kicked the extra point to give CGB 7 points.

After a touchback on the kickoff, Jayden Parsons picked up 25 yards, Dylan Ingersoll gained 8 more and Wesley Adcock added 5. With the ball at their own 47, Parsons took the hand off from freshman quarterback Carson Reed and went all the way for a 53 yard touchdown. The extra point failed and the lead was 62-7.

Ingersoll recovered a Bronco fumble and Knights’ freshman Anden Berry gained 18 yards on the first play. ALAH then took a knee twice to run out the last 3:32 of the game and make the home crowd happy with the 62-7 victory.

ALAH will play their final home game of the regular season against neighboring Arcola next Friday, October 18. It will also be Senior Night for the football players, cheerleaders, and the Marching Knights. The ALAH varsity volleyball team, also celebrating their Seniors, will play Arcola on Friday prior to the football game. The Route 133 Horseshoe Trophy, a tradition started last year will be at stake in both contests. Start time for volleyball will be 5:15 p.m. Game time for the football game is 7:00 p.m.

Stats for the Cerro Gordo Bement game:

OFFENSIVE STATS

Rushing – Jayden Parsons, 2 for 78 & 1 TD; Maddix Stirrett, 3 for 61 & 2 TD; Easton Frederick, 2 for 56 & 1 TD; Trey Strode, 2 for 50 & 1 TD; Payton Warrior, 2 for 48; Alex Rexroad, 5 for 44 & 1 TD; Brennon Hutson, 2 for 35 & 1 TD; Anden Berry, 1 for 18; Brayden Leech, 2 for 10; Dylan Ingersoll, 1 for 8; Wesley Adcock, 1 for 4; Jonah Burket, 1 for 0; Carson Reed, 3 for -7

Passing – Marcus Otto, 2 of 3 for 82 & 2 TD

Receiving – Cash Hale, 2 for 82 & 2 TD

DEFENSIVE STATS

Tackles – Kaden Herschberger, 10; Brennon Hutson, 9; Colin Smith, 7; Daylon Doggett, 6; Josh Taylor, 5; Carson Augustine, 4; Kamden Morfey, 4; Alex Rexroad, 4; Maddix Stirrett, 4; Easton Frederick, 3; Tristan Keagle, 3; Mason Thomas, 3; August Burton, 3; Jacob Tighe, 2; Brayan Martinez, 2; John Shain, 2; Brayden Leech, 1; Mackenley Bowles, 1; Ryan Appleby, 1; Trey Strode, 1; Anden Berry, 1; Jonah Burket, 1; Dylan Ingersoll, 1; Mace Stirrett, 1; Lucas Butcher, 1; Jayden Parsons, 1; Adam Morgan, 1

Tackles for Loss – Maddix Stirrett, 1; Brayden Leech, 1; Colin Smith, 1; Brennon Hutson, 1; Josh Taylor, 1; Daylon Doggett, 1

Pass Break-Ups – Jayden Parsons, 2; Alex Rexroad, 1; Easton Frederick, 1; Ryan Appleby, 1

Interceptions – Cash Hale, 3

Forced Fumbles – Landon Willoughby, 1

Fumble Recoveries – Dylan Ingersoll, 1

SPECIAL TEAMS STATS

Kick-Offs – Brayan Martinez, 7 for 261; Alex Olivero, 3 for 118

Kick-Off Returns – Brennon Hutson, 1 for 57

PATs – Kaden Herschberger, 5 for 5; Alex Olivero, 1 for 1

Punt Returns – Marcus Otto, 1 for 13

Posted in Sports - TCC