Photo by Travis David | North Knox sophomore Brayden Bilskie (54) comes up with a tackle in the first half against Washington Friday night. Teammate Will Arnold (12) was also in on the play.

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BY TRAVIS DAVID

[email protected]

Washington 45, North Knox 6: A short bus trip to Friday night’s game turned into a much longer ride home for the Warriors after the lopsided loss.

The host Hatchets scored on each of their first four possessions of the game and dominated on both sides of the ball.

“I can’t really mince words about this game,” a dejected Warriors’ coach Josh Chambers said following the loss. “We did not show up to play. It was like we did not get off the bus and we are still on it right now. It was not a good effort from our kids and not a good effort by us coaches. We just were not good tonight.”

After falling behind 28-0, North Knox garnered some momentum before intermission. Brennan Messel found Lane Adams sprinting across the middle of the field on a slant, resulting in a 17-yard touchdown with just 20 seconds left in the half. 

The score capped a 7-play, 56-yard drive. Messel and Eli Elkins hooked up with a 25 catch and run play to help set up the score just two plays prior.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, the momentum would be short lived. 

The Hatchets scored on their first two possessions of the second half — 31-yard pass play and 2-yard rush — to enforce the running clock.

The North Knox offense failed to pick up a first down in the second half and did not advance the ball past their own 30-yard line.

For the game, the Warriors’ offense managed to run just 23 plays for 73 yards which included minus-24 yards due to three quarterback sacks.

Washington signal caller Colton Stowers torched the NK defense for 192 yards on 13 completions. The quarterback completed his first eight passes of the game.

The Hatchets’ running game was even more effective, chewing up 210 yards on 38 carries, led by a 75-yard night from Xavion Lesure.

“The most disheartening thing about this loss is it’s all things we worked on in practice this week,” the Warriors’ coach said. “We knew coming in that the Stowers kid was going to move guys around on the run so we had rotations for that but our players came out of those rotations all night and left guys uncovered. Just too many missed assignments and missed tackles. We have to do better across the board, we know that.”

The loss dropped the Warriors to 1-2 on the season, while the Hatchets improved to 3-0.

Northview 35, Sullivan 0: The visiting Arrows proved to be no match for the hosts in Friday night’s Western Indiana Conference opener. 

Northview quarterback Colton Bath ran in a pair of scores, including a 50-yarder, while Avery Perry scored the other three in the lopsided win.

The Knights carried a 21-0 lead into the locker room and added two more scores in the second half.

Bath rushed for a game-high 73 yards and passed for another 144 with one touchdown before exiting the game with a minor leg injury in the second half.

Bath’s total yardage from scrimmage was more than the Arrows’ team total of 123.

After back-to-back 100-plus yard rushing games to start the season, Arrows’ back Laytin Huff was limited to a team-high 56 yards on the ground in the loss.

Paul Ridgway added 23 yards on the ground and 39 through the air.

Sullivan (1-2) travels to state-ranked and arch rival Linton-Stockton in Week 4.

NORTH CENTRAL 55, Irvington Prep 14: Jayden Cole tossed a pair of touchdown passes and passed for 131 yards to give the T-Birds their first win of the season Friday night.

Sawyer Cox hauled three passes for 79 yards, including a pair of touchdown receptions, while DJ Suggs had two receptions for 40 yards and a 13-yard score.

With as much success as the T-Birds had airing out the ball, the ground game was just as strong. Landon Tryon carved up the IPA defense to the tune of 131 yards on the ground in part of North Central’s 197-yard rushing attack.

As an offensive unit, the T-Birds finished with a season-best 328 yards from scrimmage against their overmatched guests.

North Central travels across state lines for its Week 4 matchup at Red Hill (Ill.) Saturday afternoon.

Waldron 14, Dugger Union 6: The Bulldogs fell to 0-2 on the 8-man season with Saturday’s loss on the road. 

Waldron improved to 3-0 with the win.

No other information was provided on the game.

Thanks to The Kevin Arnett Family, the Indiana Chapter of the National Youth Advocate Program and Roberts & Daughters Construction for the sponsorship of this article.