District Champions!

By Kevin Yoder  

Photos by Oliver Thompson

It had been six years since Hudson football won a district championship. That drought ended last Friday night in Jesup, as the Pirates clinched the 1A-4 title with a definitive 28-14 victory over the host J-Hawks.  

The Pirates entered the night with an identical district record to Waterloo Columbus, but with the Pirates’ head-to-head victory earlier in the season providing the tiebreaking edge, they knew they controlled their own destiny with a victory.  

The Pirates started strong. Receiving the opening kickoff, they marched down the field through a mix of run and pass, capped off by quarterback Tade Roberts first of three short rushing touchdowns from two yards out.  

Jesup countered by opening the playbook from the back, and on just their second play from scrimmage, executed a hook and ladder that covered 50 yards for the score. Hudson stayed ahead as the extra point was blocked, and went back to work. A series of completed  passes from Roberts to Anderson Yoder and Owen Bell resulted in the Pirates knocking on the  door again. Roberts found the end zone for the second time on a quarterback sneak, making  the score 14-6.  

That score was in jeopardy, however, until just before halftime Payton Bishop stepped in front of a Jesup receiver in the red zone and intercepted a pass, returning it out near midfield. It was one of four Pirate picks on the night, as Austin Kliegl started the Osky party in the first half and Yoder finished it late, with a second Bishop theft sprinkled in for good measure.  

A steady rain fell during halftime, the lingering effects still falling as the second half began. Undeterred Hudson began to lean on a resurgent ground game behind an offensive line gaining confidence each week.  

With Anderson Yoder shifting to the backfield, center Grady Moseley, guards Alston Loeb and Miguel Gomez, and tackles Levi Roberts and Rylan Dunbar created openings and continued to move the line of scrimmage. The result was a third Roberts quarterback sneak  and a 21-6 advantage.  

The final nail in the proverbial coffin came when Yoder powered off-tackle for a 14 yard touchdown run, putting a stamp on a 108-yard rushing night, all in the second half.  Jesup would capitalize on a punt team mistake and 4th down conversion to add points  late, but they were inconsequential as the Pirates celebrated a 28-14 win and a district championship.  

Following the game head coach Justin Brekke was able to reflect on the season and how impressive the journey has been.  

“This is a huge accomplishment considering our start,” he said. “It’s all on our players who kept coming to work every day and kept chipping away and improving every week. Our approach to attack the week didn’t change during the rough portion of the year, or during the  three game win streak. It means a lot to me to do it in this fashion because they kept believing  and truly bought in. There is nothing better than when you have a group that fights through  adversity like these guys did. This team created some solid memories on Friday nights due to  the work they put in during the week.”  

As a result of that victory the Pirates have more work ahead of them. As a district  champion they’ve earned the right to host a first round playoff game Friday night, as they  welcome the Central Springs Panthers to town. Kickoff is set for 7 pm, so come out and help  create a great home field environment!