Hockinson gets defensive for 2nd win

HOCKINSON — Opportunistic and aggressive Hockinson forced Prairie into a variety of mistakes on Friday.

And in beating the Falcons 40-14, the Hawks did something they didn’t do all of last season: Scored two defensive touchdowns.

Those scores and two offensive touchdowns after takeaways keyed the win as the Hockinson defense was dominant until Prairie scored twice late with reserves in the game.

“We’re a great team. We stay a family. That’s what it’s all about,” said Kedrick Johnson, who scored three Hockinson touchdowns. “We just keep working hard. We don’t get cocky, we stay humble and keep working.”

The tone was set on the first play of the game as the Hawks’ Peter Schultz-Rathbun recovered a Falcon fumble to set up a short drive to Jared Oja’s 6-yard touchdown run.

But the plays that cemented Hockinson’s dominance were the defensive touchdowns, something the 2014 Hawks didn’t produce.

First, Cameron Loos intercepted a Kevin Aguirre pass and, eluding several tacklers, went 45-yards for a score that put the hosts ahead 21-0 in the second quarter.

“I was reading the guard in a pass block and I saw the fullback come my way,” Loos said. “That’s a dangerous play they run and we practiced it a lot. I got underneath and made a play.

“It’s the best play I’ve ever made on this field, so it means a lot to me.”

The other defensive touchdown was Johnson’s scoop and score, a 35-yard fumble return in the opening moments of the second half.

“Everybody was flying around. It was a good play, everybody was playing hard,” said Johnson, who also scored two of the Hawks four offensive touchdowns.

Hockinson coach Rick Steele said that before the game he was teasing defensive coordinator Clint LeCount about the lack of touchdowns from his defense. Steele wore a broad smile after the game in talking about the defensive scores.

“It’s just flying to the football and getting after it, and when the ball pops out being able to pick it up and do something with it,” Steele said.

On offense, the Hawks spread the ball around and finished all but one of their drives into scoring territory. The longest touchdown was Johnson’s 39-yard reception from sophomore quarterback Canon Racanelli on a slant rout for the final Hockinson points.

At 2-0, Hockinson has the look of a team with the tools to have a memorable season.

“We have a good football team. We just need to keep working on technique and getting better and fixing the little things,” Steele said, pointing to significantly fewer penalties than in the opening win at La Center as one example.

Prairie fell to 0-2, and struggled with penalties for a second consecutive week. Aguirre threw a fourth-quarter touchdown pass and ran for a second score on the final play of the game.

HOCKINSON 40, PRAIRIE 14

Prairie 0 0 0 14–14

Hockinson 14 14 12 0–40

First quarter

H — Jared Oja 6 run (Tommy Brennan kick)

H — Kedrick Johnson 6 run (Brennan kick)

Second quarter

H — Cameron Loos 45 interception return (Brennan kick)

H — Steven Carlile 6 run (Brennan kick)

Third quarter

H — Johnson 35 fumble return (kick failed)

H — Johnson 39 pass from Canon Racanelli (kick failed)

Fourth quarter

P — Bryson Pena 16 pass from Kevin Aguirre (Kyle Schulson pass from Aguirre)

P — Aguirre 5 run (no try, end of game)

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Prairie: Kevin Aguirre 8-8, Kyle Schulson 5-24, Carson Slagle 5-54, Tyler Feeney 1-(minus 2), Alec Gawley 8-118, Bryson Pena 4-20, Team 2-(minus 1). Hockinson: Jared Oja 6-16, Steven Carlisle 8-41, Canon Racanelli 2-13, Matt Henry 2-8, Mitch Lines 2-14, Abraham Ayala 1-0, Ganon Kytola 5-21, Kedrick Johnson 3-16, Kyle Nute 3-13, Axel Alquist 1-1, Loos 1-(minus 5).

PASSING — Prairie: Kevin Aguirre 8-17-1-114. Hockinson: Canon Racanelli 8-16-0-122.

RECEIVING — Prairie: Bryson Pena 4-76 Alec Gawley 1-18, Jaelen Stephen 2-17, Slagle 1-3. Hockinson: Kedrick Johnson 5-91, Mitch Lines 2-26, Luke Brookman 1-5.