By Jed Buelow
Tomahawk Leader Co-Editor, Sports, Nature Editor
The defense was dominant and an improving run game broke out as the Tomahawk Hatchets took down the Rib Lake/Prentice Hawks 36-0 in front of a large crowd at Hatchet Field Friday.
The cherry on top was that the big conference shutout win followed a parade, pep rally and a week of plenty of fun as Tomahawk was celebrating homecoming week. Tomahawk head coach Sam Hernandez asked students at the rally to show up for the homecoming game and they responded, as the stands were packed with Hatchet backers to cheer on the home team.
And the Hatchets gave them plenty of reason to cheer, as Austin Snow got Tomahawk on the scoreboard first with a 10-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Cody Jablonski added the two-point conversion and Tomahawk led 8-0 at the end of quarter one.
“What a great night to be a Hatchet! I was so proud of the way our kids played tonight throughout the game. To be able to send the senior class out on their final homecoming was really special,” stated coach Hernandez. “Our defense was outstanding. Kade Wenninger and Tony Matti played most of the night in the offensive backfield and shut down Rib Lake/Prentice’s run game. Our coaching staff put together a really solid game plan and the kids executed as close to perfect as possible.”
A special night indeed, as Tomahawk really turned it on in the second quarter to put the game out of reach. The offensive surge started with a nine-yard touchdown run by Ryan Skees. C. Jablonski followed it up with a big touchdown run of his own after busting one for 39 yards to score the touchdown. A successful two-point conversion on a Isaiah Stelling run put the Hatchets up 22-0 before A. Snow reached pay dirt on his second touchdown run of the evening to put Tomahawk up big heading into the half. R. Skees capped it off with a successful two-point conversion and the Hatchets went into halftime up 30-0.
If the performance on the field wasn’t enough, the Tomahawk band and dance team put on a special halftime show that featured the announcement of homecoming court and crowning of Tony Matti and Lexi Buck as royalty king and queen.
“For the past two weeks I have felt like our offense was close to breaking out in a big way, and tonight we were firing on all cylinders,” Hernandez stated. “We ran the ball for 228 yards without having a back with over seven carries or 100 yards. The line opened up holes all night and our backs are getting much better at hitting the holes.”
Logan Bishop would finish out the scoring with a 20-yard touchdown run in the third. The two-point conversion was no good but it didn’t matter, as the Hatchets went on to get their first win of the season by a score 36-0.
“With all of the distractions of homecoming week, I thought our team handled it great and it was such a great way to end a fun week for the kids, school and community.”
Coming off homecoming victory, the Hatchets will look to make it two in a row as they travel to Hurley Friday, Oct. 4 for a non-conference tilt that begins at 7 p.m.