The Mohawks improved to 2-0 in their second season playing 8-man football – a grass roots movement that is being tracked by the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA). There are seven teams from around the state of Indiana playing 8-man football this fall.
In its home opener Saturday, Waldron’s offense committed eight first-half penalties but its defense kept Rock Creek Academy (1-1) – also a second-year 8-man football program – off the scoreboard.
“(The first half) was rough but our defense was good,” said Waldron coach Corey Barton. “The offense was not so good with tons of penalties.”
Hunter Dodson had the first of three Waldron interceptions on Rock Creek Academy’s first offensive play of the game. Tad Crosby added an interception midway through the second quarter.
Despite the struggles, the visiting Lions took the lead in the final seconds of the first quarter when Jamarcus Hamilton scooped up a Waldron fumble and raced 45 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. The 2-point pass attempt from quarterback Zachary Clark to Zion Barnes was good and Rock Creek Academy had an 8-0 lead.
Following Crosby’s interception, Waldron’s offense took over at the Rock Creek Academy 23-yard line. Four plays later, Brandon Palmer (main photo) raced into the end zone for the Mohawks’ first touchdown. Walker Dodson was stuffed on the two-point conversion attempt.
Another turnover created by Waldron’s defense proved fruitful for the offense. Dodson, Waldron’s junior quarterback, connected with Crosby for a 24-yard gain that sparked a five-play drive that ended with fullback Trent Case catching a short pass from sophomore Hunter Dodson that gave Waldron its first lead of the game. Case rumbled into the end zone for the two-point conversion to make it 14-6.
Rock Creek Academy answered right back with a five-play, 65-yard drive that ended with Dylan Parente reaching the end zone from five yards out. Clark’s two-point attempt pass fell incomplete and the game was tied 14-all.
Waldron’s first possession of the fourth quarter went nowhere but a 59-yard punt pinned Rock Creek Academy down at its own 7. Parente, a bruising runner, took the handoff and battled for yardage, only to lose the ball that ended up under the six-foot-seven frame of Waldron’s Carson Smith.
Palmer (photo, with ball) scored his second touchdown of the game on the very next play and he added the two-point conversion with a scamper into the end zone for a 22-14 advantage.
“We just stuck with our senior Brandon Palmer. He was running hard and moving the chains,” said Barton, who is Waldron’s offensive coordinator.
Rock Creek Academy scored on a 40-yard pass from Clark to Barnes but Kylan Callahan knocked down the two-point pass attempt to keep the Mohawks in the lead, 22-20, with 4:10 to go.
Waldron pushed its way down the field with the clock running but was left with a fourth-and-1 play with just over one minute left on the scoreboard clock.
Case lined up for the snap at the Rock Creek Academy 8. One more first down would seal the win – but the snap sailed well over his head and resulted in a 21-yard loss and gave Rock Creek Academy one more chance.
Clark found Barnes again for a 20-yard gain to get to midfield. Clark’s next pass attempt, his 25th of the game, fell incomplete.
On the next snap, Clark heaved the ball down the sideline but Hunter Dodson came down with the ball to seal the win.
“It was emotional but a win is a win,” said Barton. “We’re 2-0 and that’s something new at Waldron. We are undefeated going to the big fireworks night here next Saturday.”
Clark finished the game 9 of 26 passing for 138 yards and three interceptions. Parente carried the ball 19 times for 94 yards. Barnes had eight catches for 128 yards.
Waldron’s offense did just enough to win. Walker Dodson and Hunter Dodson combined to complete 4 of 13 pass attempts for 48 yards but the ground attack rolled up 218 yards.
Walker Dodson finished with 90 yards on 11 attempts. Palmer, who had two rushing touchdowns, had 62 yards rushing on 13 attempts. Hunter Dodson added 57 yards on 12 carries.
Waldron will host Purdue Poly at 6 p.m. Saturday. The Waldron Freedom Festival fireworks show that was postponed in July will follow the conclusion of the game.
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