Host Newkirk denies Hennessey’s 1st win

Hennessey’s defense put the team in position to win its first game of the year.

The offense just couldn’t quite produce enough to get it done.

Despite holding Newkirk scoreless in the second half, Hennessey dropped to 0-9 on the season with a 22-20 loss on the previously-winless Tigers’ home field last Friday night.

The Eagles’ Justin Nielson forced a fumble late in the fourth quarter as Newkirk was trying to run out the clock.

Seth Simunek pounced on it, but Hennessey couldn’t turn the extra possession into points, allowing Newkirk to improve its record to 1-8.

The Tigers had scored just 24 points all season entering the night, but managed 22 in the fi rst half.

The first score came at 7:14 of the fi rst quarter when Clayton Sargent caught a 7-yard pass from Garrett Stone.

Sargent added a 26-yard TD run in the second quarter before Stone threw a scoring pass to Tate Cline with 1:30 to play in the half.

But each time, Hennessey’s Brysn Hunt had an answer.

Hunt took over quarterback duties as Cole Joyce was still out with injury.

The senior scored on a 60-yard run to answer Newkirk’s fi rst touchdown. After the Tigers’ second score, Hunt punched it in from two yards out just 42 seconds later.

Although Newkirk scored late in the fi rst half, Hunt’s 53-yard run just 30 seconds into the second half kept the Eagles in it.

The difference was in the extra-points.

Hennessey’s Sebastian Gonzalez was 2 for 3 on his attempts.

The Tigers, however, got two two-point conversions after their touchdowns.

Hunt had a huge game with 174 yards on 29 carries. He also threw for 167 yards.

Kaden Hawk and Keigen Crites caught four passes apiece. Crites’ covered 89 yards and he added 17 rushing yards.

Hawk’s catches netted 54 yards.

Adding to his night, Hunt also led the team with 12 tackles, nine of them solo.

Hawk had 10 solo tackles for the Eagles.

Hennessey wraps up its season Friday when it hosts Chisholm. The Longhorns (7-2, 5-0) clinched the 2A-1 district title with last week’s 23-13 win over previously undefeated Luther.