Horton 21, Hiawatha 14

It was a defensive battle to open Class 3A District 1 play in Hiawatha on Friday night.  All five touchdowns were scored with the Horton offense on the field.  Thanks to a pair of defensive scores, Hiawatha held a 14-13 halftime lead until the final 2:30 minutes of the game.  

Horton senior, Trey Dishon caught a 22-yard pass and later capped a 10 play, 59 yard drive with a four yard touchdown run after lining up at fullback to put Horton ahead with 2:23 to play.  Dishon ran in the two-point conversion, to atone for a missed PAT in the first half, after the impressive five-minute drive in the fourth quarter.  The game however wasn't in the books until Cole Wolf intercepted a Hiawatha pass at the Charger 10-yard-line in the final seconds.  Horton botched the kick after their last score and Hiawatha recovered at the 49 yard line.  The Hawks converted twice on third down and a fourth and 10 play to Joseph Kunkel before ending the game with their only turnover of the night.  

Horton quarterback, Derrick Stone set up the first score with a 63 yard run and capped an 80 yard drive with a five-yard score to make it 7-0 after one quarter.  Hiawatha's Ryker Smith intercepted a Stone pass on the next possession and returned it 50 yards to tie the score.  Derek Richardson returned the ensuing Redhawk kick 72 yards and Stone ran in a four yard score to make it 13-7 with 5:28 left in the half.  Yet, after going three and out for the fourth time in five offensive drives, Hiawatha got help from their defense as Willy Entrikin busted up a play in the backfield and forced a fumble that was scooped up and returned 25 yards by fellow sophomore, Tyler Boswell for another Hiawatha defensive touchdown.  Brenden Steele made both PATs to give Hiawatha a 14-13 advantage, despite only 65 yards of offense at halftime.  Steele did miss an early field goal after Hiawatha's Ethan Piece blocked a Horton punt and the Redhawks couldn't score on a first and goal situation.  Steele finished with 58 yards receiving on 6 catches but had only 25 yards rushing on 14 carries.  

Hiawatha finished with only 111 total yards of offense and 36 came on the final drive, along with 3 of their 8 total first downs.  The Horton defense, allowing a mere 5 points per game this season, gave up just 24 rushing yards and had multiple sacks with constant pressure on the Redhawks.  Defensive ends Zach Earp and Dishon were named the Citizens State Bank "Player to Bank On" and Denison State Bank "Lineman of the game."  The Hiawatha defense was great as well with two scores and just 200 yards allowed in the game plus Nicholas Reese and Entrikin wrecking havoc in the backfield.  Stone had 106 rushing yards and two scores for the Chargers, but was only 3 of 11 passing.    

With their first win against their Brown County rival since 1969, Horton improved to 6-0 on the season and Hiawatha fell to 0-7.  In the other 3A, District 1 game, Sabetha topped Riverside 33-12.  Sabetha will play at Horton next week in a battle of 1-0 district teams while Hiawatha travels to face the Cyclones, and both teams need a win to keep playoff hopes alive.  The Sabetha at Horton game will be featured live on KNZA 103.9 FM and www.mscsports.net