Sports

Hamilton’s seventh and eighth grade junior high football teams improved to 2-0 on the season with wins over DeLeon and Valley Mills respectively at Kooken Field last Thursday night. In junior varsity action, the Valley Mills Eagles flew the coop with a 28-16 victory over the now 3-1 JV Bulldogs.

Scenes from Hamilton High School’s Homecoming Pep Rally.

HOMECOMING COURT: Above, Sophomore Averi Poe, senior Sawyer Wright, senior Kady Weatherford and freshman Helena Knutson pose with Sparky (Skylar Carr) for a pre-game photo. Weatherford was crowned queen during the half-time show. (Top to bottom on left) Sawyer Wright was escorted by her dad, David Wright. Macie Parrish was escorted by her dad, Bill Parrish. Jenna Hinton was escorted by Tyner Haile. Averi Poe was escorted by C.J. DeLeon. Helena Knutson was escorted by Joseph Polster.

The Seuss-like Itasca Wampus Cats were no match for the mighty Hamilton Bulldogs last Friday night at Kooken Field. In battering and bamboozling their district opponent 70-14 in a Hamilton Homecoming showdown, the 2020 Dogs became just the third Bulldog football team to post 70 points in a ballgame. The previous two teams to accomplish the fete were the 1976 and the 2006 Bulldogs who each tagged 74 points to the board in claiming gridiron victory.

By Grant Lengefeld

TRENCHES: Hamilton’s offensive line dominated along the line of scrimmage as the Dogs pounded the ground for six rushing touchdowns. Pictured (l-r), right tackle Wesley Griffin (67), right guard Jose Najera (60) and center Xander Ceresini (53).

SCAVENGING FOR GOLD: Hamilton’s cross country teams competed in the Crawford Pirate Invitational last Saturday. Both the high school Lady Bulldog and Bulldog sprint squads placed second overall behind 3A-Division I McGregor, and the junior high Bulldogs and Lady Dogs both earned team gold. The varsity boys finished ahead of West, Clifton, Crawford, Bruceville-Eddy, Axtell and Eagle Christian Academy respectively and were led by second overall finisher Caleb Lengefeld. Lengefeld was closely escorted by teammates Dawson Melde in sixth, Taylor Long 10th, John Polster 12th, Hayden Blackwell 18th, Caden Hopper 20th and Joseph Polster in 22nd. Ben Cooper, Jaydon Watson, Landon Thompson and Hunter Mize crossed the line in order, closely trailing Hamilton’s top seven. The HHS Lady Dogs completed the course ahead of West, Clifton, Crawford, Axtell and ECA respectively, and were led by top 10 finisher Campbell Lengefeld with a ninth overall finish. Madison Henkes crossed the line in 11th position and was shadowed by Fernanda Olalde in 12th, Grace Killian 15th, Grace Carson 16th, Kaatje Jarrell 17th, Cortland Mehaffey 18th, Ashtyn Hansard 19th and Mia Coker 28th. Leading the gold medalist junior high Dogs, Morgan Henkes earned a first place ribbon and was closely pursued by teammate and cousin Colter Johnson in third. Giving chase was Halston Haile in fifth, Ryder Coker eighth, Carson Roberts 10th, Judson Coalson 11th, Caleb Allen 24th and Tyler Bloomcamp 25th. For the gold winning junior high Lady Dogs, Kaitlyn Walton set the pace with a first overall finish. Walton was pursued by Presley Long in second, Emery Parrott fifth, Destini Ranaghan eighth, Kayla Tawater 10th, Addison Massingill 15th, Emma Thompson 24th, Clementine Cooper 25th and Jocelyn Johnson 26th. Hamilton’s high school cross country competitors will race next this Thursday in Jarrell with the varsity girls set to run at 9:15 am followed by the boys at 9:30. On Wednesday, October 7, all of Hamilton’s runners will compete in Hamilton’s Mona Gloff Invitational to be hosted at the Perry Country Club. Pictured (l-r), Lady Bulldogs Kaatje Jarrell, Grace Killian and Grace Carson dig deep on the front mile of the Crawford course. Bulldogs Dawson Melde (bib# 109) and Hayden Blackwell are pictured rounding the corner for the final stretch in Crawford.

AT ATTENTION: The varsity Lady Bulldog volleyball team moved to 9-7 on the season and 4-1 in district last week. After falling to Tolar at home in three sets, the Lady Dogs rallied to defeat Bluff Dale on the road in three sets by scores of 25-23, 25-7 and 25-12 on Saturday. Hamilton’s JV Black downed Tolar in two sets, 25-9 and 25-10, at home, and traveled to Tolar on Saturday to defeat the Lady Rattlers in three. After dropping the first set 16-25, the young Lady Bulldogs recoiled for 25-17 and 25-23 second and third set wins in Tolar to earn a 12-3 season record and a 4-0 district start. The JV Red defanged the Lady Rattlers in Hamilton on Tuesday of last week in two sets, 25-17 and 26-24, to improve to 9-2 on the year and 1-0 in district competition. Following a bye this Tuesday, the Lady Dogs are scheduled to host teams from both Meridian and Hico this Saturday. The JV Red will play Meridian beginning at 9 am trailed by the JV Black hosting Hico at 10. The varsity is set to play Hico beginning at 11. The Lady Bulldogs will stay home on Tuesday of next week to host Evant with the JV Black scheduled to play at 5 pm followed by the varsity at 6. Pictured, Hamilton’s varsity volleyball team, including (l-r) Kelton Wright, Averi Poe, Jaley Reich, Sawyer Wright, Morgan Mehaffey, Trinity Craig, Macie Parrish, Lexie Clark, Emiley Hale, Taylor Collett and line judge Jordyn Medina, honor the flag during the National Anthem before hosting district foe Tolar on Tuesday of last week. Also pictured, senior libero Taylor Collett delivers a pass from the backcourt. Staff photos