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Fax: 317-575-4244 Website:
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_____________________________________________________________________________
November 24, 2006
The Harding
Hawks (12-3) captured their first Class 2A IHSAA Football State Championship in
school history by defeating the Southridge Raiders (12-3), 20-7, Friday night
at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.
Up 14-7 in the
final two minutes of the game, Harding converted on fourth and six from the
Southridge 43 yard line on a 28 yard pass from quarterback Devin Dominguez to
Maquelo Suel who raced down the sideline to the Southridge 15. Harding clinched
the game on fourth and goal from the four yard line when Matt Jenkins recovered
a Deangelo Stevenson fumble at the one and carried it into the endzone.
It was the
school’s first state football title after taking 2A runner-up honors in 2003.
The Hawks were coached by Sherwood Haydock.
Harding’s
defense set the tempo early when senior defensive back DeAundre Muhammad intercepted
a pass from Southridge’s senior quarterback Brad Roesner at the 11:11 mark in
the first quarter. The interception put
the Hawks on the Raiders’ 21 yard line. From
there, Dominguez took advantage of good field position and lit up the scoreboard
first on a 21 yard pass to Suel.
Harding’s
passing game proved to be the dominant factor in the match-up with the Hawks
out-passing the Raiders 126 yards to 10, respectively. Dominguez completed 14 of 21 passes for 126
yards and two touchdowns. Roesner
completed one of six passes for 10 yards and two interceptions.
Harding’s
rushing attack was led by freshman Roderick Smith with 68 yards on 17
carries. Suel led the receivers with
seven catches for 98 yards and one touchdown.
Muhammad also chipped in six catches for six yards and one
touchdown.
The Hawks’
defensive front was led by sophomore Xavier Carr Jr. with a game high nine
tackles. Senior Tramaine Scott also
brought down six tackles and a game high two sacks.
Southridge’s
rushing attack was led by senior Ross Kunkler with 61 yards on 13 carries and
one touchdown. The Raiders senior
defensive lineman John Reed led the way with seven tackles. Senior defensive linemen Chad Wertman and
senior Andy Lichlyter tallied a sack each.
Southridge was coached by Kelly Murphy.
SOUTHRIDGE’S JACOB KAHLE HONORED WITH ESKEW MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD
Jacob Kahle of
The award is
presented to a senior nominated by his principal and coach who excels in mental
attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability. The award is named in
honor of Mr. Eskew, who served as the IHSAA’s third commissioner from
1962-76. Under Eskew’s leadership, the
IHSAA football state tournament was initiated in 1973.
Kahle currently
maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA while completing the most rigorous curriculum his
school has to offer and will receive the Indiana Academic Honors Diploma upon
graduation. He plans to attend the
He is a member
of the National Honor Society, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Students Against Drunk Driving and the Spanish Club. Outside of
school, he has earned his Order of the Arrow and Eagle Scout Award.
Besides his role
as co-captain on the football team, Kahle also has played baseball and
basketball for the Raiders.
“Jacob is a
young man with a great desire to succeed and has a superior work ethic second
to none,” says Southridge Principal Mike Eineman. “He is honest, of excellent
moral character and is well-respected among his peers, faculty and staff.”
He is the son of
Wayne and Kathy Kahle of Huntingburg.
Indiana Farm
Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate partner, presented a scholarship check
for $1,000 to
VSN MEANS ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY
Visit our friends at Visual Sports Network, the IHSAA’s official
photographer for all state championship events and one of the leading action
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STATE FINALS PROGRAMS AVAILABLE
Couldn’t be in there for the
state finals? You can still purchase a copy of the official souvenir program
while supplies last! Programs are $3.00 if you purchase in person at the IHSAA
Office (
Quotes on the Class 2A Game
Harding’s Head Coach Sherwood Haydock
“I thought I had a special
team. We opened up the season 0-2 it was
kind of tough then. You never think you’re
going to win the state.
On the fourth down
conversion in the last drive
“Devin Dominguez completed
the pass (to Marquelo Suel) on the fourth down play late in the game. He’s thrown that hitch about a 1,000 times
this summer, I had confidence in him. The
corner was playing soft, Marquelo made the catch and he almost went the
distance. That was the key play.”
“We got the interception
early. The first play of the game was
going to be a reverse pass no matter where we were at on the field. I didn’t really want to call it at the 20 but
I decided to go ahead and call it.
Another big play in the game was the kickoff return. Our kids made a tremendous play, but we were
flagged for a clip. If we hadn’t clipped
there I thought it would be tough for Southridge to come back. I said at halftime that if they (Southridge) stopped
us on the first series it was going to be a ballgame and they (Southridge) proved
that right.
“Southridge was tough up
front. They beat us up front all
night. I knew it was a matter of time
that they were going to run the ball on us, but our kids toughened up when they
had to.”
“We have a lot of kids who
made plays. Suel made some big catches
and Dominguez made some good plays to name a couple.”
Southridge’s Head Coach Kelly Murphy
“We screwed the game up in
the first quarter when we gave the ball away three times.”
“We drove the ball right
down their throat and scored in the third quarter and drove the ball in the
fourth quarter too. If we put that score
in it’s “what ifs.” It was “what ifs” is
the story for us tonight.”
“In the second half we
decided to run the ball more inbetween the tackles instead of outside and give
the ball to our fullback more. But they
made plays defensively when they had to and we didn’t.”
“Harding didn’t throw the
ball effectively the whole game. That’s
their game plan but they sure did run the ball awfully well.”
“We had too many missed
opportunities. We had those
opportunities and that’s all you can ask for.
The finals was a great experience but we’re disappointed.”
“Our kids gave it all
tonight and I couldn’t be more proud. At
halftime they hung their heads and I told them there is not reason to be
down. We score when we’re down 14 and we’re
right back in it.”
On Jacob Kahle the Mental
Attitude Award winner
“Jacob is one of the best
kids I have ever been around in my life.
I am so happy for him and his family.
He deserved the award.”