Pirates Crown Homecoming With 27-6 Victory

by Kevin Yoder

Last Friday night the Hudson Pirate football team welcomed the Waterloo Columbus Catholic Sailors to town. With a special Homecoming Battle Of The High Seas on the line, both teams were looking to stay undefeated in district play.

Both offenses excelled early, as each scored on their opening drive. Hudson struck first, as they marched the initial possession of the game 80 yards. Senior Owen Bell had a phenomenal game, and capped the drive with a two-yard plunge that gave Hudson a quick 6-0 lead.

Following an equally impressive drive that resulted in a Sailor touchdown, Senior Austin Kliegl blocked the extra point to keep the score knotted at six.

From this point however, the fates of both teams went decidedly different directions. Hudson continued to dominate Columbus by running the football. The offensive line, made up of all seniors Grady Moseley, Alston Loeb, Jack Holbach, Rylan Dunbar and Jaxson Willand, moved the Sailor defensive line at will, opening up running lanes for quarterback Tade Roberts and senior running back Gavin Gunnarson. Both ripped off explosive runs as the Pirates put together another 80-yard scoring drive, the last of which covered 24 yards on a Roberts keeper. He then connected with Bell on a three yard slant for the conversion that moved the score to 14-6 with only a couple of minutes to halftime.

However those two minutes produced some action. It began with a tremendous Bell interception, as the Sailor quarterback attempted to push the ball deep down the sideline. On the very next play, Roberts threw an interception of his own on a tipped ball, giving Columbus another chance to add points before the half. That mindset had them put the ball in the air again, and with the clock ticking down, the Sailors threw a short out route. That pass went right through the hands of the intended receiver, and Bell made an incredible adjustment to land his second interception. This one he caught going full speed and toward the Pirate goal line, and raced 40 yards for the pick six with :08 remaining in the half.

The Pirates capitalized on that late momentum by carrying it forward to the second half. Following a defensive stand to open the third quarter, the Pirate offense resumed their dominance on the ground. Moving the chains and milking the clock, Hudson was in the red zone again as the fourth quarter began. A second Bell rushing touchdown, this one from eight yards out, pushed the lead to 27-6. The Pirate defense held strong and forced multiple turnovers on downs to seal the win, and ensure a joyful conclusion to the remaining Homecoming festivities.

Following the opening drive, the Hudson defense dominated the game, led by senior McCoy Yoder’s seven tackles. But turnovers were the key, and Bell’s two interceptions, combined with a third on Roberts’ career first, kept the offense returning to the field. That offense produced a punishing ground game. Bell only carried it twice, but both resulted in touchdowns. Gunnarson, coming off his first career 100-yard game last week, finished with 86 yards, while Roberts led the team with 137 yards on 18 carries.

Gunnarson paused to reflect on the resounding victory following the game, and what it means to the team moving forward.

“Winning on Homecoming really meant a lot for us,” began the running back and newly crowned Homecoming King. “It gives us a lot of confidence going into the rest of our district games. The team is playing great right now. We are getting stops and takeaways on defense, as well as running the ball well and completing drives on offense.”

The Pirates will continue district play with a road game Friday night in LaPorte City against the Union Knights. Kickoff is set for 7 pm.