ALAH Knights Football Falls in Home Opener

In last Friday’s football home opener, after scoring on a 51 yard run in the second quarter, ALAH running back Kaden Feagin takes off for the end zone again in the third quarter. One of the game officials hurries to get out of his way while at least six members of Meridians’ defense make the futile attempt to run him down. Kaden would take the ball 59 yards to the end zone and have over 100 yards on his two scoring plays.

By SALLY McCARTHY
Staff Writer

The Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond Knights football team played their first home game of the 2021 season against the Hawks of Meridian on Friday, September 3.

The Knights won the coin toss and moved the ball down to the Hawks 8 yard line with their running game as Landon Waldrop had 8 yards, Kaden Feagin, 16 yards; and Mason Allen 20 yards in the drive. Unfortunately a fumbled snap on a fourth down and two turned the ball over to the visitors.

The home defense forced a Meridian punt in their first series but ALAH returned the favor turning the ball back over with a punt on their second possession.

The first quarter would come to an end during the Hawks’ next series but they would put the first points on the board with 8:49 left in the second quarter. The extra point kick was no good and the visitors led 6-0.

The scoring then came faster as the home team’s running back Kaden Feagin took off on a second and sixteen play, just two minutes later, to take the ball 51 yards to the end zone for the Knights’ first touchdown of the game. Chilton Ingram kicked the extra point and the red, black and gold took a 7-6 lead with 6:49 remaining in the half.

Meridian took the lead for good just twenty seconds later after a long kickoff return and then scored on a 20 yard td run. The two point conversion failed but the Hawks led 12-7.

ALAH had two more possessions in the half but one ended with an interception and the other a punt.

Meridian would make the most of their last two series of the first half, scoring on two pass plays, one of 33 yards and the other 31 yards. Both extra-point kicks were no good but the visitors led 24-7 at halftime.

The second half would see the Hawks score three more touchdowns with two extra- point kicks and also tack on a safety giving them 46 points in the game.

The Knights would add two more scores, one in the third quarter on a 59 yard run by Kaden Feagin and quarterback Quentin Day would score on a 3 yard run later in that quarter.

Mason Allen would get a two point conversion on the last td giving the home team 21 points in the game.

The football team is now 0-2 on the season heading into conference play. The Knights will be back at Wilson Field next Friday, September 10 when they play hosts to Lincoln Prairie Conference foe the Cumberland Pirates. Game time is 7:00 p.m.

Offensive Stats for Game 2 vs Meridian:

Rushing – Kaden Feagin, 11 carries for 149 yards and 2 TDs; Landon Waldrop, 9 for 66; Mason Allen, 13 for 61; Jayce Parsons, 3 for 19; Maddix Stirrett, 2 for 9; Quentin Day, 12 for -11 and 1 TD

Defensive Stats: Tackles: Noah Garrett, 7; Kaden Feagin, 7; Jacob Tighe, 7; Quentin Day, 6; Landon Waldrop, 6; Drew Cotton, 5; Tanner Beckmier, 5; Mason Allen, 4; Austin Abercrombie, 4; Kody Kornewald, 3; Nathan Tighe, 2; Colton Taylor, 1

Pass Break-ups – Quentin Day, 3; Sacks – Austin Abercrombie, 1; Forced Fumbles-Mason Allen, 1.

Special Team Stats: PATs-Chilton Ingram, 1 for 1. Kick-offs-Chilton Ingram, 5 for 203 yards. Punts-Landon Waldrop, 2 for 47. Kick-off Returns-Kaden Feagin, 1 for 25; Landon Waldrop, 1 for 22; Mason Allen, 2 for 21; Noah Garrett, 1 for 13. Punt Returns-Landon Waldrop, 1 for 0.