Pirates Storm The Castle; Slay Knights 23-0

By Kevin Yoder

Sunny skies greeted the Pirate football team as they sailed southeast to LaPorte City last Friday night to do battle with the Union Knights. After weeks of squalls and turbulent seas, a sunset of the horizon was a welcome sight.

The Pirates were looking to stay undefeated in district play, and after receiving the opening kickoff, began their initial march. Both running back Gavin Gunnarson and quarterback Tade Roberts had success on the ground, each ripping off explosive runs resulting in first downs. The drive ultimately reached the ten yard line, however it derailed with an interception in the end zone. Despite resulting in no points, it set the tone for how the Pirates would assert their physicality throughout the remainder of the game.

Following a scoreless first quarter, Union actually found themselves with the next scoring opportunity. They moved the ball into the red zone by converting a 4th and 22. Three plays later they faced another 4th down, this time from the Pirate one yard line. The Hudson defensive line of Grady Moseley, Alston Loeb, Rylan Dunbar and Ivan Martinez stood tall, allowing safety Austin Kliegl to shoot through a gap and tackle the Knight ball carrier for a one yard loss.

Facing a 98-yard drive, the Pirate offense went to work. A series of short runs and controlled passes put the ball at their own 29-yard line. Roberts then rolled right and found Kliegl on the run behind the defense. He made the catch and headed down the sideline. Pulling away from his nearest defender, only an angle by the safety prevented the touchdown, resulting in a 71-yard gain and first down at the 1-yard line. Two plays later Roberts scored on the sneak, and a Jackson Nesteby PAT made the score 7-0, a margin that took both teams to the half.

The second half began with another dominating defensive series from the Pirates. Following a Knight punt, Hudson’s running game remained the focus. More runs from Gunnarson and Roberts drove the ball back to the 2-yard line, where Roberts would score his second touchdown of the night.

The Pirates made quick work of the next Knight possession with a most unconventional result. Alston Loeb made a perfect read on a Union screen pass, and dropped in coverage right in front of the intended receiver. There are few things in football better than a big man interception, and Loeb displayed great hands to make the pick and surprising speed to return it fourteen yards.

A few plays later Roberts tacked on his third rushing touchdown, this one from 20 yards, and with a 21-0 lead, the team’s goal was to finish the shutout.

The last score of the night came with the Knights backed up against their own goal line. The Pirate defense made their final assertion of dominance when linebacker McCoy Yoder and defensive lineman Karson Loeb met at the quarterback with a tackle in the end zone for a safety.

Offensively, Roberts finished the night with a career high 163 yards rushing on 18 carries. Gunnarson added an additional 46 yards and Hunter Coulson rounded out the ground game with ten more.

Kliegl had the best receiving night of his career, finishing with 103 yards on just four catches. Owen Bell, Payton Bishop, Gunnarson and Coulson also had receptions for Hudson.

Defensively the Pirates were very stingy, holding a Knight offense with over 1,000 yards rushing on the season to a paltry 26. Sophomore Ivan Martinez made his first start of the season and ended with a career night, leading the team in solo tackles (4), tackles for loss (2.5) and sacks (2). Gunnarson (6) and Kliegl (5.5) paced the team in tackles, while Yoder, Bell, Moseley, Dunbar, and both Loeb brothers joined Martinez recording tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Hudson now sits tied with Aplington-Parkersburg atop Class 1A District 4, both with matching 3-0 records. The Falcons will come to call this Friday at 7 pm, and the winner will be the outright district leader with one game to play. Come out and fill the Pirate Ship Friday night!