By Jed Buelow

Tomahawk Leader Co-Editor, Sports, Nature Editor

The Hatchet football ground game has been picking up speed as Tomahawk surpassed the 100-yard mark for a second straight game as they get ready to host Rib Lake/Prentice for Tomahawk’s Homecoming this Friday, Sept. 27.

Tomahawk will look to continue running the ball toward their first Marawood Conference win of the season against the Hawks as Rib Lake/Prentice fell to an undefeated Stratford team 83-0 Friday. Rib Lake/Prentice will also be playing for their first win of the season after falling to 0-2 in the conference and 0-5 overall.

The Hatchets will enter the game also coming off a loss after making the long trip to Lomira Friday and falling by a score 46-6 in the non-conference game.

All the scoring came in the first half as the Lions jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. Tomahawk got on the scoreboard in the second quarter as Hatchet running back Anthony Ierulli busted a big run for 39-yards for the touchdown. The Hatchets went for the two-point conversion but would come up short in the loss. Ierulli led the Tomahawk ground game with 46 yards on three carries and the touchdown. The pass game also showed some signs of improvement against Lomira as Kade Wenninger had three catches for 22 yards.

“I thought our blocking and tackling both improved this week, and while we still have a ways to go to get where we all want to be; it is encouraging to see these kids continue to get better,” stated Hatchet head coach Sam Hernandez. “I was so happy for Anthony (Ierulli) tonight as he scored his first high school touchdown. For a senior to come out for football for the first time and score a touchdown is something I hope he never forgets. What was even more special is that the first people he got to celebrate with were his offensive linemen for paving the way for him to get to the endzone.”

Coach Hernandez said the focus of the coaching staff has been to stack positive plays together on offense and defense and each week continue to build more positive plays together.

“That focus will not change this week when Rib Lake/Prentice comes to town. We are going to focus on playing Hatchet football, and let the scoreboard take care of itself at the end of the night.”

The Tomahawk co-ed cross country team will be running the ball in from Timm’s Hill before the start of Friday night’s homecoming game under the bright lights at Hatchet Field. Openeing kickoff is at 7 p.m.