Hawks and Panthers both head into Friday’s game with 5-0 records
Hockinson Hawks (5-0, 3-0 2A GSHL)
Week 1: Hockinson 42, La Center 6
Week 2: Hockinson 42, Prairie 6
Week 3: Hockinson 49, Woodland 27
Week 4: Hockinson 42, Ridgefield 15
Week 5: Hockinson 46, Mark Morris 0
Next: at Washougal, 7 p.m. Friday
No surprises here, Hockinson is undefeated more than halfway through the regular season. What might be surprising is the Hawks will play another undefeated team in Week 6. Yes, Hockinson at Washougal, a battle of unbeatens.
Wow!
Believe it was Kyle Brabec who made a cool looking interception. Playing on the defensive line, he tipped a Mark Morris pass, the ball went skyward, then Brabec tracked it and caught, setting up Hockinson’s first touchdown. Forgive me if I got the name wrong. Hard to see the jersey number on the video.
By the way, there was not much chance of a Mark Morris victory in this one, but the Monarchs did not help themselves. They had three first-half turnovers, all leading to Hockinson TDs.
Oddity in that 62-yard TD:
Sawyer Racanelli caught a pass, broke a tackle, and was gone for a 62-yard touchdown from quarterback Canon Racanelli.
What stood out on the video was the way Racanelli broke a tackle. It looked like he lowered his shoulder and lowered the boom on a defensive back. That’s the stuff big running backs or fullbacks are supposed to do to smaller defensive backs. Not wide receivers.
Yet there was Sawyer, delivering a punishing blow on offense, running over the defender, then getting up to top speed in a hurry for the 62-yard score.
Darkness!
Some of the lights went out with around 5 minutes left in the first half.
“We had the ball and were getting ready to run a play when ‘Poof!’ out went the lights,” Hockinson coach Rick Steele said. “Only half the stadium lights went out so we could still see. The homecoming crowd started roaring, which made it fun. Soon after that, the lights went all the way out and was very dark on the field.”
Officials and coaches met to go over logistics. The officials ruled for a regular halftime break then, and when the lights were fixed, they could resume playing the second quarter. And then, when play did resume, and the second quarter ended, the teams took a minute or two break, then played the third quarter.
“Made it an interesting night,” Steele said.
Coach Speak:
What did Rick Steele learn about his team in Week 5? “I asked them to not come out flat, as we have several times this year. They did not. We came out ready to play and took care of business early. We continue to improve, and that is good.”
MVP on offense: Canon Racanelli completed passes to nine different receivers, plus he had five touchdown passes. “What can I say?” Steele asked.
MVP on defense: Wyatt Jones. “From his safety spot he was dealing out big hits and had a big interceptions and return. He was all over the field for us.”
Thoughts on Week 6 vs Washougal, the battle of unbeatens: “Obviously a big game,’’ Steele said. “We have a good team, and so do they. It will be a great game that a lot of people are looking forward to.”
