OldHatchetHog76

150 days until kickoff. As of now, my Hatchets are still missing a game in week two. They did the same thing last year following their week one game vs. McLean Co. (KY).

Maybe we're using it as a bye week to get some extra prep before the GS game? Anything we can do to add to the....six total points we've put up on them since joining the PAC.

On 2/7/2022 at 3:11 PM, DumfriesYMCA said:

Kinda crazy how just the rumor of Illinois moving to a district playoff situation caused all of this. 
 

no rumors of districts would mean Mt. Carmel wouldn’t have had to leave….which then set off the Big 8 disbanding….which led to the new PAC and new SIAC….which brings us to today. 

Funny enough, that district format the IHSA went to for football has already been scrapped. A whole conference gone because a trial run didn't go well. Woof.

12 hours ago, HHPatriots said:

By the way, Washington's current middle school squad is good.

This is very encouraging to hear as an alum who no longer is in the area. Even after a step back last year, I truly believe Coach Morris has the Hatchets on the right path from the varsity program all the way down to youth league ball.

I for one hope VL finds their way back on our schedule. Lots of good, old-fashioned, clean hate between our two schools.

Big congratulations to the Titans! Way to represent the conference and the rest of southern Indiana. There was so much smack talked about football south of Indy and now they gotta eat their words!

12 hours ago, DumfriesYMCA said:

Next up Washington….unless they have renovated recently and it went unmentioned but that field is brutal and has been since I was in HS 10 years ago.  
 

I imagine it would go a little ways towards turning the program around giving it some new life….but I’m sure the coaches there have been asking for it for years 

9 hours ago, tango said:

The field was not an excuse.  You guys whooped our butts and would have whooped our butts on any surface. That game was actually a pretty important moment for our program.  We were pretty young in some spots and it showed us we needed to be tougher. I suspect the turf was well-received by most, if not all of the BTC faithful, right?

Good luck to you guys this week, npatman. 

 

I forgot about the Hollow.  It is worse than what BTC had. There is no question improving the facility would benefit the Hatchet football program, and probably other sports programs too (soccer, baseball, softball, etc.).   

7 hours ago, DumfriesYMCA said:

I just know that when I was playing that the coaching staff (pre coach hart) made it a point to tell us to watch out because of like concrete exposed on the sidelines and just other stuff when we played there.  Maybe those things have been addressed since then, idk…but the city of Washington and those fans deserve a new stadium….they have one of the coolest basketball arenas in the US and it has a capacity that is like 12th of all HS courts….but that track/football/soccer/lacrosse field is the complete opposite 

1 hour ago, Esso Ayche said:

I had always heard about the fabled Hatchet Hallow, but never believed it could be *that* bad.  Then I visited.  Yikes.

Asphalt track ~2 yards off the sidelines.  The area drain inlet grates *just* off the sideline--about five drains on each side--all drop, what, 6"-8" down (more??) within a foot of the boundary?  How has there not been a major injury?

They did put some refurbished field turf down on the straightaways of the asphalt track, so that helps... some.  As long as you can avoid the anchors sticking about an inch out of the turf as you slide across it at the seams...  It is progress, but dang.  If it hasn't happened already, someone is going to get a life-changing injury.

I get it, I really do.  It is a historic 1938 field/stadium that just will NOT be replicated in this day and age.  I wouldn't propose they raze it and start from scratch, or even go to the expense of touching anything within the four boundary lines of the playing surface (yet) or the bleachers (ok, the visitor bleachers are horrible, but for the sake of this fantastical diatribe we'll stick with the OOB area and not my creature comforts).  However, AT A MINIMUM everything outside the playing field to the bleachers should be open season for renovation for the sake of player safety.

I think they had some kind of plan to possibly get rid of the track, but I don't know how serious that ever got beyond rumors... maybe someone from Washington can fill us in...?

I really do hope for some improvements because it has a nice atmosphere and obviously has some great history... but man I cringe on every OOB play.  

Hatchet alum (c/o 2013) here ready to answer all your questions/comments about our lovely little stadium. Let me first establish that football and marching band are the only two programs that use this facility. Soccer has their own facility/complex with the baseball and softball programs on the West side of town. Track has their own facility not too far away from that behind an elementary school. We don't have a lax program. Recent upgrades to Hatchet Hollow include new visitor bleachers within the past two years (they were literally falling apart before hand) and the aforementioned usage of the refurbished turf to cover the concrete track. Other than that, some home stand painting and maybe some replaced lighting and upgraded sound system, although our PA guy can go kick rocks for all I care. No personality as an announcer and has some family beef with me. But, that's not for this discussion. 

Last year there was talk and a referendum put up to build a new junior high on some farm land purchased near one of the current elementary schools. It would have included a new football/track facility and alleviated some issues with lack classroom spaces. This referendum was then voted down, leaving our program to continue to call Hatchet Hollow home. I wasn't too sad to hear this news as I enjoyed my time there, but I'm not ignorant in knowing that upgrades are needed in order for Hatchet Hollow to fulfill its potential as one of the most intimate high school football settings in the state. 

One of the best qualities Coach Morris brings to the table in my opinion is his qualities as a salesmen. Year 1 he reached out a bunch of us alums and set the path down for injecting us into the program more than we have ever been (or at least in my case). It was easy to to relate considering he's a Hatchet alum as well. He discussed his vision for the program and how our involvement as alums is vital in the development of the program. You look at some of the successful programs around SW Indiana and how active their alumni base is (Reitz, Mater Dei, Heritage Hills just to name a few) and we've been playing football just as long if not longer than some of them. It's no different than college: get the alums involved/engaged and good things tend to happen.

The first goal in maximizing Hatchet Hollow's potential is definitely ripping up that concrete track, the terribly placed drainage grates (where I witnessed a teammate DESTROY his ankle during a 7on7) and the instillation of turf. While my involvement with the program is entirely hands off since I live in Louisville, KY, I've always dreamed about Hatchet Hollow getting turfed up to the home stands kinda how the Reitz Bowl is. The teams are also in need of a new locker room space. Current one isn't bad, but a new one would look fantastic just outside the West end zone where they used to have a film tower that's now torn down. That would allow the junior high to move to the current varsity locker room. The home bleachers also have space underneath them: however, I'm not too sure how much of it is actually usable.

Another upgrade that is sorely needed is a new weight room. They have a dungeon down in the gymnasium that has been outgrown in my opinion, even when I was there. Dark, damp with old equipment they've had to made due with. I believe there's enough space to build a facility in the area I mentioned above to build a combined weight room/football locker room right at the field. I know for a fact that these renovations listed above are on Coach Morris' to-do list. I believe they'd breathe life into the program never seen before.

13 hours ago, DumfriesYMCA said:

That was a really good sectional game. Score was something like 38-33?  High scoring game.  
 

we were starting so many Sophomores that year and to see what they could do so early was impressive.

 

2012 seniors unlocked the potential for the program…2013 sophomores (class of 2015) really set the standard and gave GS the ability to reload instead of rebuild 

We scrimmaged GS my senior season (2012) and even from the other sideline you could tell there was a different aura about the program. Your guys' run to semi-state that year made me a quick believer.

11 hours ago, Titan32 said:

But had they stopped the clock when they were supposed to there would have been plenty of time left.  Lower level games at the jungle have been weird as of late.  Problem is volunteerism is down everywhere...folks things this stuff just happens by magic.  

It truly is. I work in athletics at the collegiate level and trying to find volunteers for events it like grasping into thin air. And the one's we do get...let's just say "bless their hearts" like they do in the South. Too often I've seen uninterested student volunteers almost get impaled by an awry javelin or hammer.

13 hours ago, Titan32 said:

8th grade group looked pretty salty for Washington.

That's what I've heard as well. If our youth numbers stay up and they continue to play together thru Jr. High, we're gonna be much more competitive than this year showed. Coach Morris has told me that his goal is to get enough kids out to have a freshman team at Washington, which is something I'm not sure we've ever had.

Pipeline looks good; just gotta take some lumps now before some good times roll. My hope is the rest of the fan base understands that and continues to support these boys!

9 hours ago, 1840ojb said:

The Manchester camp sounds intriguing.  Good competition?  Are there certain teams that tend to attend this camp yearly?

Bishop Dullaghan runs some good football camps as well. I know they offer individual and team camps. Haven't been ran the past couple summers because of COVID precautions, but looks like they'll be back up again in 2022. I believe the location has been up at DePauw. They also run a middle school camp you can pass on to your youngsters. I believe the info on the website is from this past summer, but it'd be great to have on hand for when they update it.

https://bishopdullaghan.com/high-school-team-camps/

Been a bit since I've chimed in about my alma mater, but there's not much to report in Hatchet Town. Inexperienced squad made up of mostly underclassmen still learning the game of football lost a tough one in their Sectional 30 opener against Edgewood...which happens to be my other alma mater. Hatchets will get better with another off-season of learning good fundamentals. Line play has to get better on both sides; really holding us back because I think we've got a couple solid pieces at the "skill positions." Skill positions....makes me sick to type that out lol 

13 hours ago, tango said:

I haven't looked at all the PAC schedules, but isn't GS the only one who has scheduled multiple teams from outside of the PAC?  I know SR and Boonville played Linton, but other that aren't most schools just filling their non-conf slots with schools from the other division?  

Washington had three non-PAC opponents scheduled for this season: West Vigo out of the WIC (whom they weren't able to play because of rampant, non-COVID illness throughout the team), McClean Co. out of Kentucky (which was a late addition to the schedule), and North Daviess out of the SWC (inter-county rivalry game). One cross-division game is against Pike Central (another rivalry game). Other five games are Big School Division games.

There's a whole lotta unnecessary salt in this thread. Being new to the league, I'm of the opinion that come playoff time I wanna see all the PAC schools go as far as they possibly can. How exciting would it be for the conference to see a team like GS represent us on the biggest stage in the state? Just as Heritage Hills did back in 19 and Southridge in 17. 

1 hour ago, TigerFan20 said:

1926, Haven HS, KS beat a team 256-0 

Funny enough, the most lopsided college football game of all-time happened 10 years prior (Georgia Tech beat Cumberland College 222-0). I bet those boys remember reading that headline in the paper as kids and their game became the first representation of the phrase "hold my beer."

My observations after finally getting to see my Hatchets in person this weekend:

Best part about freshman is they become sophomores, sophomores become juniors, etc. Didn't realize how young this team actually was (only 6 seniors on the roster sheet I had). The staff has some guys who know the game of football; these young bucks just need to continue to soak up the info.

Princeton definitely had the better athletes on the field Friday evening. One day I think we'll have the athletes who can run like they did. Friday night was not that day. Alas, I will continue to look towards the future!

These Hatchets didn't give up the fight. I always stay until the final buzzer and I was encouraged by the players still working to get open and running hard after the catch trying to get just one more score. Previous squads would've mailed it in. I believe this is a testament to the culture Coach Morris and Co. are instilling in the program. This will prove vital if this rebuild is to be fruitful.

Hatchet's best case scenario for a victory this season will be a first round draw of Pike Central. Even though I didn't get to see the game last week, I believe if the Hatchet team I saw against Princeton Friday night takes the field against PC again, it could be a different story. Not guaranteeing a W by any means; just saying that's their best opportunity. Next three weeks are about surviving the gauntlet and coming out healthy.

17 hours ago, tango said:

All from private donors, just like everything else that is athletics-related...

I wish more schools could use public funding and put it towards that. Investing in solid S&C facilities and a S&C coach that can program for all teams. It would also provide advanced PE opportunities (aka weight lifting class) for students. Everyone would get the opportunity to benefit! But, seeing how physical education continues to get pushed by the wayside more and more each year....guess it's just a pipe dream 

Loving the new weight room pictures. Nice to see investments into strength and conditioning programs at the high school level.

13 hours ago, DumfriesYMCA said:

Good win for PC! 

Speak for yourself lol

In all seriousness this game really surprised me. I wan't sure PC had it in them, but they proved me wrong big time. I'm sure victory number one for Coach Brashear was that much sweeter against his old squad. This week's Princeton match up is our last shot for a W this season; I don't foresee us competing well with Boonville, HH, or Mt. Vernon. They always say sectionals begins a whole new season so you never know if a revenge game will be played because of a lucky draw, but look for a scorching hot Owen Valley team (who's OC was PC's HC for the past three seasons) to run away with the Sectional 30 title.

15 hours ago, DumfriesYMCA said:

So is Southridge still running the wing T/option?

 

I know some here think this one is over before we even play, but you still gotta play the game and Southridge has shown to be technically sound and can beat anyone even if they have to start smaller players….see a few years ago when southridges DL and OL were much smaller than GS but dominated the LoS.  
 

Think this game will be closer than others think…and will be a nice test for the defense staying on assignment.  I think so far we have faced teams that use the spread more so getting to face what I assume is the wing T will be interesting…especially with HH right around the corner with ole faithful, the wishbone lol

For every team that runs the Wishbone, Barry Switzer gets another year tacked onto his life. Always appreciative of a good ol' ground-n-pound offense.

I know I said earlier I wouldn't make predictions after our week one cancellation, but maybe my luck will change since I'm including all conference games, right?

Linton

Mount Vernon

North Posey

South Spencer

Gibson Southern

Springs Valley

Washington

Tough first three games for my Hatchets, including this past week's blowout loss to county rival North Daviess. I know we've got a young QB (only a sophomore I believe) and I think having an all-state athlete at that position last year masked some issues that are much worse than we thought. Nonetheless, we move forward.

This week's match up against Pike Central can provide our offense with an opportunity to score some points and give us some confidence moving forward. I'm sure PC will be thinking the same as our defense has been just as porous as their's so far. Plus, I can guarantee Coach Brashear would love to have his first W with the Chargers come against his alma mater while Coach Morris wants to keep that shiny new trophy for a little bit longer. It is rivalry week once again in HatchetTown!

GS was as good as advertised, if not better. 68-6 hurts no matter how you put it or who you're talking about. That Allen kid is a stud. I could continue to rattle off things we already know, but I will digress. GS fans (and other PAC fans who have nothing to due over the Thanksgiving) might want to hurry up and make their hotel reservations for Indy. Would love to see them hoisting that giant trophy come season's end.

My only hope is the Hatchets learn something from this game and apply it to their next three games, all against winnable opponents. Coming out 3-0 against ND, PC and Princeton would be huge for the season before ending the season with three tough match ups against HH, Boonville and Mt. Vernon. 

Has to be THE story of the SIAC this early into the season right? Haven't started 2-0 since I first came into this Earth. Shaping up to be an exciting season on the South Side!

WHS drops their opener against McLean Co. (KY) 18-8. Offense is still a work in progress; defense looked somewhat improved outside of some big rushing plays. McLean Co. fumbled the ball a handful of times and I would've liked to see the Hatchets land on a few more of those. Think that could've changed the outcome of the game. Line play looked improved from last year, even with losing a few seniors from last year's squad. Still plenty of room for improvement on line play in the eyes of this Old Hog...

Onward to week 3 as the Titans descend upon Hatchet Hallow from Tartarus (otherwise known as Ft. Branch). As someone who likes to think of themselves as an objective fan, I DO NOT foresee the Hatchet's putting a stop to the buzz saw that is Gibson Southern. Imagine if you will a Makita cutting into a stick of butter that had been left on the counter.

My hope is the Titans don't score triple digits and both teams come out unscathed from injury. Putting up some TDs for confidence wouldn't hurt either!

A bit of old news that I hadn't gotten to report since the site had been down, but Washington has picked up a Week 2 opponent. They will host the McLean Co. Cougars out of KY at 7pm on Saturday the 28th.

Glad to see them pick up the game after last week's cancellation due to rampant illness. I know little to nothing about the visiting Cougars. From what I can dig up on Google:

• School size seems to be comparable. Roster lists 45 kids.
• Went 3-2 last year with 4 games cancelled due to COVID-19. Both losses were to Owensboro Catholic.
• Won their 2021 opener 38-30. Seem to rely heavily on the run game. Scoring consisted of 5 rushing TDs and 4 successful 2-pt. conversions (no attempted PATs).

Looks to be a nice early tests of the Hatchet's run defense. Let's see if they can take the step forward that I'm hoping for. Best of luck to everyone playing on Friday evening!