Knights tame Lions in first round IHSA football playoff

By Editor | November 4, 2025 |

By Sally McCarthy

The Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond Knights football team played the Marshall Lions in the first round of the IHSA playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 1. The opening quarter was the difference in the game but the whole forty-eight minutes had to be played before the home team could celebrate. The Knights scored three times in that quarter to go up 20-0 at the beginning of the second.

The Lions won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball to start the game. The ALAH defense forced a punt without allowing a first down. Marshall had two more series in the first quarter but they also ended with punts.

The home team Knights scored on all three of their first quarter series. The first score was a 54 yard run by senior Trey Strode on the Knights’ second play of the game. The extra point kick was not good so the lead was 6-0 with 9:50 left in the first.

On the Knights’ second possession which began on their own 40 yard line, a steady dose of run plays with running backs Easton Frederick gaining 29, Marcus Otto picking up 10 and Strode tacking on another 4, the ball was at the Lions’ 18. ALAH junior running back Brennon Hutson took it the final 18 yards for a touchdown. The extra point run failed but the lead was extended to 12-0 with 2:27 remaining in the first.

After a short punt by Marshall, ALAH picked up their last score of the first half on the first play of their third series when Frederick took the ball into the end zone from the 39 yards out. Hutson ran in the two point conversion and the red, black, and gold led 20-0 with 59.1 seconds till the end of the first quarter.

Marshall went on a long drive to start the second quarter, taking the ball from their own 10 to the Knights’ 17 where the ALAH defense stopped them on a fourth and 6 play to regain possession of the ball at the 3:25 mark of the first half.

Both teams had to punt on their next series. ALAH got the ball back with 1:23 to go in the half. Cash Hale caught a 31 yard pass from quarterback Otto, but a couple of penalties stalled the drive and moved the Knights back. With around 10 seconds left, Otto hit Daylon Doggett with a 27 yard pass, down inside the 10, but the clock expired before ALAH had a chance to put it in the end zone.

The second half saw Marshall put two scores on the board both by their workhorse tailback Lucca Giannavola. The first was a 4 yard run and the second was 3 yards. The extra point was good but the second was stopped by the Knight defense.

ALAH had to punt on their first two series but a huge fumble recovery by defensive lineman Edik Arwine between the two visitor scores, enabled the Knights to put up an insurance touchdown with 6:28 left in the game. Junior tight end Jayden Parsons made two crucial pass receptions totaling 40 yards to keep the ball in the Knights’ hands. Senior running Brayden Leech finished the drive with a 14 yard scoring run. The extra point by Brayan Martinez put ALAH up 27-8.

After Marshall’s last score made the score 27-15 in favor of the Knights, the home team picked up two first downs, one on a 14 yard run by Payton Warrior and the other on two runs by Strode that picked up 16 yards. All the Knights needed to do was take a knee to run out the clock and claim the first round playoff victory. The Knights are now 10-0 on the season.

ALAH will get to enjoy their Wilson Field home advantage for the second round of the playoffs when they play hosts to fellow Lincoln Prairie Conference opponent, the Cumberland Pirates. The Knights defeated the Pirates 35-20 on Sept. 12 in regular season play. The game will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8. Cumberland defeated another LPC team, the Sullivan Redskins in their first round playoff game.

Stats from the Week 10 victory over the Marshall Lions:

OFFENSIVE STATS

Rushing – Easton Frederick, 8 for 82 & 1 TD; Trey Strode, 5 for 73 & 1 TD; Payton Warrior, 4 for 59; Marcus Otto, 10 for 39; Brennon Hutson, 7 for 21 & 1 TD; Brayden Leech, 4 for 20 & 1 TD; Cruz Hale, 2 for 10; Cash Hale, 1 for -4

Passing – Marcus Otto, 4 for 7, 98

Receiving – Jayden Parsons, 2 for 40; Cash Hale, 1 for 31; Daylon Doggett, 1 for 27

DEFENSIVE STATS

Tackles – Payton Warrior, 16; Easton Frederick, 15; Elijah Van Scyoc, 12; Trey Strode, 11; Donovan Vanausdoll, Kaden Herschberger, 9; Jayden Parsons, 8; Brayden Leech, Brennon Hutson, Cruz Hale, 7; Cash Hale, Kamden Morfey, 4; Edik Arwine, 2; Daylon Doggett, Tristan Keagle, Mace Stirrett, Jonah Burket, Alex Olivero, 1

Tackles for Loss – Elijah Van Scyoc, 2; Brennon Hutson, Payton Warrior, Jayden Parsons, Trey Strode, Donovan Vanausdoll, Kaden Herschberger, 1

Sacks – Donovan Vanausdoll, 1

Pass Break-Ups – Brennon Hutson, Payton Warrior, Brayden Leech, 1

Fumble Recoveries – Edik Arwine, 1

SPECIAL TEAMS STATS

PATs – Brayan Martinez, 1 for 2

Kick-Offs – 5 for 228

Kick-Off Returns – Easton Frederick, 1 for 5; Cannon Doggett, 1 for 0 (onside recovery)

Punts – Brennon Hutson, 3 for 94

Punt Returns – Marcus Otto, 1 for 7

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