Hamilton wins district
Published 11:19 am Saturday, November 8, 2014
If there’s any solace to be taken for Grand Lake after Hamilton Christian’s 40-8 victory, it’s this: a year ago, the Warriors were on the wrong end of scores like that.
Friday night, the Warriors (9-1, 7-0 District 4-1A) were putting the wraps on an improbable perfect run through district just one season after sputtering to a 3-7 regular-season record.
“It’s unreal,” said coach Tim Sensley. “It really hasn’t set in yet as far as the ability to come back from last season and be 9-1. I thought it was possible. I thought we had the kids to win a district. But to see it come into fruition is great.”
The clincher was never in question as the Hamilton offense rolled behind Kaylon LeBlanc’s 240 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries.
“Not only is Hamilton Christian district champions, but they are the best team in the district,” said Grand Lake coach Chad Lavergne. “They’re very good and very well-coached.”
Grand Lake (2-8, 1-6) was badly overmatched with injuries forcing the Hornets to suit up 19 players.
“We had a seventh-grader playing, an eighth-grader playing, and quite a few freshmen on the offensive line,” Lavergne said.
There was still some fight in the decimated bunch, with defensive back Alex Guillory accounting for the lone touchdown with a clean strip that he turned into a 42-yard score.
Sensley understands what the Hornets are going through.
“They’re undermanned right now,” Sensley said. “They’re where we were at last year.”
If Hamilton is to turn its regular-season success into a playoff run, Sensley said there is still much to improve on. The Warriors lost two fumbles and were penalized 11 times for 115 yards, including a string of three personal fouls in a two-play span.
“We want to make a run,” Sensley said. “To make a run, you have to clean up some things with the penalties and execute better. We had a little leeway for mistakes tonight, but we have to clean it up because next week it will be someone that has a little more depth. There won’t be so much margin for error.”
Kirk Meche
