Harrison Central falls to Union Local, drops to 0-4

It was a slow burn last weekend at Wagner Field, as the Union Local Jets led by workhorse Brody Perzansowski, rushed for 257-yards as a team; methodically sending the Harrison Central Huskies to their first 0-4 start since 2006 in the 28-3 final. 

The slow burn was more so a slow start for both offenses, as the scoreboard read 3-0 in favor of the Huskies with just over a minute to go in the first half. The Jets (2-2) finally scored the game’s first touchdown with 1:04 on the second quarter clock, as Kolton Snyder capped an 83-yard drive with a plunge from inside the Huskies one-yard line. 

The Huskies defense had been solid the entire first half, moving to the ball crisply and holding their own at the line of scrimmage. An effort Head Coach Anthony Hayes acknowledged in the postgame. “I thought our kids fought hard, especially on defense. Defensively, we got off to a good start and played very fast,” the coach commented. 

However, football being the ultimate team game, the defense needed some help from the offensive unit, and the help came at a premium if it came at all. Case in point, on the Huskies drive that preceded the Jets first points, an opportunity was there for Harrison Central to add on to their 3-0 advantage. 

The Huskies drove down to the Jets 15-yard line before two penalties and a fumbled ball on a quarterback scramble forced a punt. With placekicker Noah Thaxton proving true on a 32-yard field goal in the first quarter, there was no reason to believe that he couldn’t match that effort going the other direction. Nonetheless, the one thing that couldn’t happen did happen, as the ball moved backwards and the opportunity for three points at a minimum moved backwards with it. 

“Our first offensive series we drove the ball right down the field and had two or three good looks at the end zone, but we failed to execute on the those looks. Noah (Thaxton) came in and got us on the scoreboard with the field goal, but that’s been our story through the first four weeks of the season. When we work our way into striking distance of a touchdown, we have failed to put the ball in the end zone for six points, and we are not good enough to continue to do that. We must score touchdowns when the opportunity to do so presents itself. Our defense has gotten better each week, but we are still giving up explosive plays in third down situations and that has hurt us. We must do a better job of executing our individual jobs, it’s that simple,” Hayes said. 

Thaxton’s boot came at the 2:21 mark of the opening frame, a tally that stood alone until right before the break. Snyder’s touchdown for Union Local sent the Jets into the locker room in front 7-3, but the Huskies would receive the second half kickoff. 

Senior Jacob Quito set the Huskies up with favorable field position out of the break, returning that kick out near midfield. The offense then couldn’t find any traction, and a three-and-out punt handed the ball rather quickly over to the Jets. From there the visitors from Belmont County took the keys to the game and drove it to the finish line. Colby Carpenter put the Jets up 14-3 with a one-yard dive later in the third, and Brody Perzanowski added on with two touchdowns in the fourth. The game went silently into the night with the Jets scoring the final 28 points unanswered. 

Looking forward, the Huskies will have two favorable matchups in the next two weeks. Akron North (1-3) visits Wagner Field tonight, and Weir (0-3) will do the same next week. Two programs that are playing more at the rebuilding level of the Huskies currently. It should be a nice change of pace, as all four opponents to date this season are projected to make the postseason. 

While disappointed with the start this year, Hayes remains steadfast in his optimism that things are going to turn the corner. 

“I am proud of our kids and coaches’ preparation and effort. We just need to clean some things up and put some points on the board. If we do that, we are in every game up to this point. We will get back to work and get ready for Akron North.”