By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
Carlisle’s annual rivalry game with archrival Hazen was tough on the Bison from the start Friday night at Fred C. Hardke Field, as the visiting Hornets scored early and often on their way to a convincing 51-20 win over the Bison.
The 2A-6 Conference matchup looked to be quite competitive on paper, as each team entered Friday night’s game with a 2-3 overall record and 2-1 record in conference play. But once the ball was kicked off, it was all Hazen.
The Hornets (3-3, 3-1) scored the game’s first 22 points before the Bison (2-4, 2-2) could get on the board. After the Bison scored their first touchdown, though, Hazen responded by scoring 29 unanswered points to take its largest lead of the night at 51-6, putting the game well out of Carlisle’s reach.
“It just never materialized for us,” said Carlisle coach Jack Keith.
“They’re a heck of a ballclub. They’ve got some backs that can really go. They’ve got some good-sized linemen. They were able to win the battle up front and they have good, quick backs, and we just couldn’t catch them.”
Hazen’s first 22 points were scored on three of its first four possessions. Quarterback Drake Ingle put the Hornets on the board for the first time with a 29-yard run off the left side with 10:46 to go in the opening quarter. He also ran in the two-point conversion to make it 8-0.
Running back Logan Penn scored the next two touchdowns. The first came on a 34-yard run with 4:54 to play in the first quarter and the second was a 76-yard run on the first play of the second quarter. The Hornets converted 1 of 2 two-point conversions on those two scores, making it 22-0.
Carlisle’s first score came less than a minute later on a 59-yard run by quarterback Ty Golleher. The PAT was unsuccessful, leaving the score 22-6. Hazen returned the ensuing kickoff to its own 45-yard line, and on the next snap, Ingle took a read-option keep 55 yards for another Hornet touchdown.
Penn added the two-point conversion to push Hazen’s lead to 30-6 with 10:49 left in the half, but that was the score at halftime. Carlisle received the second-half kickoff and gained a couple of first downs, but fumbled on the fourth play of the drive and Ingle returned the fumble to the Bison 20.
Dakota Aycock found the end zone three plays later on an 8-yard run up the middle of the field. Penn added the two-point conversion to make the score 38-6 with 9:25 remaining in the third quarter.
Hazen scored its final two touchdowns on its next two possessions. The Hornets led 44-6 on a 33-yard run by Penn and pushed their lead to 51-6 with a 3-yard run by Aycock and successful extra point with 2:14 to go in the third.
The clock ran continuously after Penn’s last touchdown, which invoked the 35-point sportsmanship rule, and though the game was well out of the Bison’s reach, they didn’t quit.
Carlisle got on the board with 3:15 to play on an 11-yard run by Devon Kendrick. Carlisle’s onside kick that followed was covered by Bison sophomore Tristan Seidenschwarz.
Golleher scored the game’s final touchdown on a 10-yard run with 14 seconds remaining. Kendrick added the two-point conversion to set the final score.
“We definitely didn’t play our best game,” Keith said, “but you’ve got to be able to overcome it. We were able to keep fighting for four full quarters and we never gave up. The kids showed a lot of heart and they keep battling no matter what. I couldn’t ask for much more than that from them.”
Hazen finished the night with 388 yards of offense, with all but 13 of those yards coming on the ground. Penn had 12 carries for 175 yards and three touchdowns. Ingle had 10 carries for 117 yards and two scores and Aycock had nine carries for 86 yards and two touchdowns.
Carlisle had 257 yards Friday. Golleher finished with eight carries for 96 yards and two touchdowns. Fullback Tyler Teel had 19 carries for 90 yards and Kendrick had 13 carries for 61 yards and one score.
Carlisle will try and rebound next week at Palestine-Wheatley (3-3, 2-3). The Patriots beat winless Marvell 34-14 last night. Kickoff for next Friday’s conference game is scheduled for 7 p.m.
