Chargers play Rebels with a cause

Posted: Aug. 31, 2010

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Todd Ponath

Sussex Hamilton Football players work on technique during practice at the school earlier this summer.

Todd Ponath

Sussex Hamilton Football players work on technique during practice at the school earlier this summer.

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It was a special night at Stan Grove Field on Friday. Special teams grabbed the early spotlight for Hamilton's varsity football team, which opened up the 2010 season with a convincing 42-7 victory against Racine Horlick in a nonconference football game.

Hamilton built a 35-0 lead by halftime to initialize a running clock in the third quarter, giving HHS a relaxing start to the 2010 season.

"We got off to a good start, and it was because of our special teams play," coach John Damato said. "They forced turnovers, and that really got us rolling."

Dan Jaskolski had a 1-yard run for Hamilton's first touchdown of the season before Aaron Clinton-Earl scored three times on runs 1, 28 and 8 yards.

Nick Patterson had a 25-yard run for the Chargers. Racine Horlick's touchdown came on a 48-yard run from Andrew Murriel, the lone All-Conference choice from a Racine team in last year's Southeast Conference.

Hamilton's final score of the night was a 36-yard scamper from James Perreault.

Assuming the role played admirably last year by graduated senior Nathan Vannarom, Tim Biron made good on four extra point kicks, and Jaskolski tossed a 2-point conversion to Mike Kelty.

The Chargers had 16 first downs, while Racine Horlick moved the chains only three times. Hamilton out-rushed the Rebels, playing with a first-year head coach and renewed emphasis on the running game after employing the spread passing game for years, 324-59.

Neither team completed a pass from scrimmage, albeit a total of six passing attempts were taken.

Clinton-Earl finished with 150 yards on 22 carries. Perreault had 49 yards on the ground.

Jake Luedtke had seven tackles to anchor the Hamilton defense. Kyle Schiedemeyer had an outstanding game at linebacker and the defensive line, led by Andy Faber, bothered Racine Horlick's offense.

"Our entire defense was sound the whole game," Damato said.

Hamilton looks very much the part of a Greater Metro title contender after the first week of the season. Returning state finalists Marquette and Menomonee Falls both lost opening games against teams they defeated soundly last season.

This week, the Chargers will have to be even better, playing a much-improved Mukwonago team that won its opener against Lake Geneva Badger, 36-14.

Badger went to Level 3 in last year's WIAA Division 2 playoffs and figures prominently in the Southern Lakes Conference title picture.

Last year, Hamilton eked out a victory against Mukwonago in triple overtime.

"We watched Mukwonago on film, and they're very good," Damato said. "They're a physical, fast team. We need to have a good week of practice to prepare for them. It's going to be a challenge for."

Scoring

Hamilton 42, Racine Horlick 7

HHS - Dan Jaskolski, 1-yard run (kick failed)

HHS - Aaron Clinton-Earl, 1-yard run (Tim Biron kick)

HHS - Clinton-Earl, 28-yard run (Biron kick)

HHS - Clinton-Earl, 8-yard run (Biron kick)

HHS - Nick Patterson, 25-yard run (Jaskolski pass to Mike Kelty)

RH - Andrew Muriel, 48-yard run (Riley Martasian kick)

HHS - James Perreault, 36-yard run (Biron kick)

Up next

Who: Sussex Hamilton (1-0) at Mukwonago (1-0)

What: MHS football home opener

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Mukwonago High School football field

Of note: Mukwonago quarterback Derek Hasanoglu sparkled as the director of his team's triple option against Badger, rushing for four touchdowns and throwing for 130 yards in addition to 129 yards on the ground. The senior qualifies as a difference maker and could be the best quarterback in the vaunted Classic 8.

LIVE BLOG: Sports director JR Radcliffe will provide live updates from the game at LivingLakeCountry.com at the Preps Alcove.