Sports

Senior Devin Eanes stabbed a spectacular 10-yard TD reception on a crucial third-andsix in the red zone to extend Hamilton’s lead to 22-12 early in the fourth quarter. Eanes recorded seven receptions or 111 yards and a score last Thursday and has 55 catches for 1,179 yards and 14 touchdowns on the season.

Photos by Grant Lengefeld

Senior Halston Haile, who rushed for 202 yards and two TDs on just 19 carries, including an 80-yard game-sealing burst to the endzone in the fourth, was forced to watch last season’s state semifinal football game versus Stamford from a hospital bed. Haile suffered a gruesome torn kidney injury during last year’s Region 2-2A title win over Axtell and was expected to never return to the gridiron. After a two-week hospital stay and multiple surgeries to repair the kidney, Haile worked to regain 20-plus pounds of muscle, his balance and his resolve over the past year and put on a miraculous state semifinal show last Thursday in lifting the Bulldogs to a first in program history state semifinal championship and a chance to play for Hamilton’s first ever state football title in 111 years. Entering Wednesday’s state title game versus Joaquin, Haile had rushed for 1,827 total yards and 20 rushing touchdowns while grabbing another 31 receptions for 625 yards and eight receiving TDs. Photo by Tracy Cox

Hamilton is getting ready to raise a glass to something new this spring as the community prepares for its first-ever Sip & Stroll wine-tasting event, coming to downtown Hamilton March 28.

Senior Henry Ivey paves a path for classmate Halston Haile to navigate.

WAR DRUM

For the second consecutive year, the Hamilton Bulldogs are one of just four teams in all of 2A Division I still playing football in the month of December. The Dogs again sawed the horns off the Axtell Longhorns last Friday night in Robinson 24-3 to claim backto- back Region 2-2A titles.

REGION