We're at the halfway point of the 2009 HHC season, and the race has pretty well sorted itself out after tonight. There are 4 contenders in the upper half, Yorktown is .500, and three teams have 3+ losses. The top 4 teams all won tonight, and all did so by 3-score (or more) margins.
In our Game of the Week, Mt. Vernon and Pendleton Heights spent a quarter and change feeling each other out and trading field position. Jim Ryan talked about the Marauders' offense taking off like a jet plane -- just needing to get off the runway and reach altitude. Of course, the Marauders took flight with a ground game and controlled passing, but they scored 38 straight points in the second and third quarters in a 38-14 victory over the Arabians.
The win was the 100th for MV coach Doug Peacock during his 16-year tenure at MV. He's 100-70 at MV, a number that includes three sectional titles and a handful of HHC crowns, and and 120-90 overall. Peacock got a water-cooler bath and held the game ball aloft after being presented it in a postgame ceremony. A lot of ex-players who were part of those 100 victories were back to witness the century win -- one of them being the guy sitting next to me on Friday nights.
MV had 200 rushing yards -- Trey Ross had 86 yards and 3 TDs to lead the way, while Zach McKinney and Evan Whalen also reached the end zone -- and Austin Parker threw for 86. But where the Marauders were impressive was in the defense and special teams. MV and PH traded punts for their first three possessions, but each time they switched, MV gained several yards. Finally, McKinney punted PH to its own 2, and Sam Balbach partially blocked a punt, giving the Marauders a short field. They took advantage with a 25-yard TD drive. In fact, all of MV's scoring drives began on the positive side of the 50. MV's kickoff and punt coverage teams all helped them get good field position, and the punt return team had two deflected punts. PH's average drive start was its own 22. MV's average drive start was the PH 49. The Marauders' second and third TDs started after punts were fielded on the PH half of the 50, and ended with Ross TD runs of 38 and 1 yards. QB Austin Parker completed 5 passes to McKinney, several in the second quarter, for 51 yards. All 5 passes carried for first downs -- including a 4th-and-3 completion that set up Ross' third TD.
MV added on in the second half, with a FG, an fumble recovery setting up McKinney's TD, and an interception by Jason McCalley setting up a scoring run by Evan Whalen in the third quarter.
MV's defense was solid -- 2 takeaways, holding PH without a first down until late in the 3rd quarter, and holding the Arabians off the scoreboard until 9:05 remained in the game. McCalley, Dominique Cazares, Sam Balbach, Jose Cortez, Jason York, all involved in making plays on the defensive end.
Grant Hendershot threw two TD passes for PH in the fourth quarter, both to Dezmon Nunn.
MV is now 4-1 and tied with Shelbyville & Delta with 3-0 conference records. PH is now 1-4, both in the HHC and overall. The Marauders meet Shelbyville next week.
Other HHC games
Delta 56, Yorktown 13: The Eagles have been the highest-scoring team in the league so far. Tonight, no exception. A big win for Delta, which gave up a late TD to Yorktown. Delta is now 5-0, with showdowns against MV (Week 8) and Shelbyville (Week 9) ahead.
Shelbyville 19, Greenfield-Central 0: The Golden Bears pitch a shutout, but have their lowest point total of the season. G-C's defense was a bright spot when we saw them last week, and it appears to have carried over. The Cougars are now 0-4 in league play, but they've managed to keep Delta close for three quarters and Shelbyville close.
New Palestine 34, Rushville 13: An impressive offensive performance by the Dragons, who remain in the thick of things at 2-1 in the HHC.
Elsewhere in Hancock County
Knightstown 33, Eastern Hancock 12: The Royals have one of their higher point totals of the year, but the Panthers retain the Plow Share & Anvil trophy. EH is now 0-5, although games against 1-4 North Decatur and 1-4 Wes-Del loom.
Standings
Delta 3-0/5-0
Shelbyville 3-0/5-0
Mt. Vernon 3-0/4-1
New Palestine 2-1/3-2
Yorktown 2-2/3-2
Pendleton Heights 1-4/1-4
Rushville 0-3/1-4
Greenfield-Central 0-4/1-4
Next week in the HHC
TGD Game of the Week: New Palestine (2-1/3-2) at Yorktown (2-2/3-2), 7:30 p.m.
Delta (3-0/5-0) at Pendleton Heights (1-4/1-4), 7:30 p.m.
Mt. Vernon (3-0/4-1) at Shelbyville (3-0/5-0), 7:30 p.m.
Rushville (0-3/1-4) at Greenfield-Central (0-4/1-4), 7:30 p.m.
Other Hancock County games next week: Eastern Hancock (0-5) at North Decatur (1-4), 7 p.m.
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