The respective seasons for the Hutchinson Salt Hawks and the Bishop Carroll Eagles have been very similar thus far.
Both teams opened with losses against high-quality opponents, then cruised through their next seven games. Now, Class 5A’s top-ranked Salt Hawks (7-1, 2-0 district) and fifth-ranked Eagles (7-1, 2-0 district) will clash tonight in Hutchinson with the District 8 championship on the line.
“Bishop Carroll, from a program standpoint, is as good as it gets in Kansas,” Hutchinson head coach Randy Dreiling said. “They’re very similar to us. They’re committed to being as good as they can be. They play very physical football. They’re the real deal. We’re looking forward to an outstanding high school football game.”
Hutchinson, which has won six consecutive state championships, lost its season opener 29-28 to a Rockhurst (Mo.) team that has nine players listed as high level recruits by Rivals.com. Since then, the Salt Hawks have clobbered their opponents by an average score of 56-10.
“They’re a darn good football team,” Bishop Carroll head coach Alan Shuckman said. “They’re one of the best in the state of Kansas. It will take a total team effort to beat them.”
The Eagles’ season began with a 21-0 loss to Class 6A’s top-ranked Wichita Heights Falcons. After that, Carroll has scored no less than 35 points in a game and has beat its opponents by an average score of 45-7.
The Carroll offense is without an Oklahoma recruit at quarterback this season but has been effective with Tyler Nance as the signal caller.
“It took Tyler some time to get comfortable at quarterback,” Shuckman said. “He was an all-conference receiver last year, so he didn’t get a lot of snaps at quarterback. He was an experienced football player but not an experienced quarterback. He’s really progressed this season."
Carroll’s offense has been led by Nance, as well as senior running back Brandon Weber and sophomore Jalen Hernandez.
Of course, Hutchinson’s offense isn’t so bad itself.
The Salt Hawks’ triple option attack is rushing for almost 390 yards a game with senior running back Ben Heeney leading the way. Heeney has rushed for a startling 1,386 yards and 29 touchdowns on only 133 carries this season.
“Heeney’s definitely a focal point of their offense,” Shuckman said. “But you can’t key on him because of their scheme. Last year our whole focus was to stop the outside, and we got hurt on the inside. You have to pick your poison a little bit. We can’t afford to miss tackles.”
In addition to Heeney, Hutchinson’s Ja’Mon Cotton, Lucas Munds and Hunter Stuckey have all rushed for more than 350 yards this season.
However, Bishop Carroll counters with a defense that returned eight starters from 2009. Linebackers Beau Bell and Aaron Jackson and defensive back Max Martinez lead a defense that has kept its opponents to eight points or less five times this season.
“Our defense is our strength,” Shuckman said. “That’s what will give us an opportunity to win this football game. To beat Hutch, you have to figure out a way to slow them down.”
Win or lose, this will be a good measuring stick for both teams before they enter the playoffs.
“This is one of those games you look forward to,” Dreiling said. “It’s a challenge our kids welcome and one they relish. If you want to call yourself the best, you have to win games like this.”
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