​(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY STEVE PAGE)
Decatur Central head coach Kyle Enright watches Hawk junior-varsity players and freshmen go through a preseason workout. 

By Steve Page
Correspondent

If it sounds like Kyle Enright is getting defensive about his football team, it should.

For the Hawks, up-front defense will be the benchmark, especially early in the season.

“The front seven on defense is our most veteran group,” Enright says as he prepares the Hawks for his seventh season at the helm. “We have guys up front who are experienced and senior leaders.”

They’ll need that, as many of those who led the Class 5A Hawks to a 9-2 record in 2021 have graduated.

That lot includes Javon Tracy, the last of the standout family of brothers. After leading DC in six categories, he has gone to Miami of Ohio.

“We had 13 guys go to college football,” Enright noted. “It was a very productive senior class. They accounted for a lot of yards, a lot of tackles. We’re losing Kaleb Hicks at running back (1,307 yards, 15 touchdowns, to Indiana Wesleyan). He will be hard to replace.”

Enright and his staff are busy.

“We’ve got a lot of new guys,” he said. “We’re more strong on the defensive side with Aycen Stevens (inside linebacker), Cameron Renick (inside linebacker) and Alec Lawson (defensive end).”

It’s that defensive front that will lead the way, according to its coach.

“Trey Hall is a big defensive tackle – 6-4, 295,” Enright noted. “He’s looking to replace some guys. MJ Campbell (6-2, 235 junior) is a transfer from Perry Meridian. He has a great work ethic and is relentless to the ball. Alec Lawson (6-3, 22 senior defensive end) was All Mid-State.”

Directly behind them will be the likes of inside linebackers Stevens (6-4, 225 senior), Cameron Renick (6-0, 225) and Halbert Aguirre (6-1, 220 junior).

“Brayden Tyus (6-2, 190) is a linebacker, a sophomore who has a lot of upside,” Enright said. “He can run and tackle very well.

“Our secondary is young, but they have talent, with no experience, so they’re going to have to grow up quick.”

Included in that secondary are Elijah Tramil (5-8, 170 junior), Breydon LaFollette (5-10, 165 junior), Russell Peterson (6-2, 175 junior), Brayden Coffey (6-1, 175 senior) and Presley Newkirk (5-10, 175 junior). Duane Alexander (5-7, 160 senior) is a former Hawk who transferred back from Beech Grove after two years.

There’s promise on the offensive side as well.

“Javian Jones (6-3, 290 junior left tackle) is a big offensive lineman, and we have Jacob Roeder (5-8, 240 senior right guard). We have Mason Mills (6-2, 240 sophomore), who played as a freshman, who is now our starting center. Keegan Cox (6-0, 255 senior) will be starting at left guard. He’s very intelligent. Josh Cambron (6-2, 255 sophomore) will be the right tackle.”

“We want to establish the run game with our big offensive line and get back to our playmakers. Not a lot of experience, but a lot of talent.”

The multi-talented Stevens is one of two quarterbacks.

“With Aycen being a quarterback who has been in the system his entire life, he will see rotations. He will split time with a freshman, Bo Polston (6-1, 180). With Aycen, we’re having a senior guy, an elite-level guy, coming off a torn ACL that will limit his reps. Polston is going to play some. We like his coachability.”

Halbert Aguirre, a 6-1, 220 junior, is the fullback, with Jordan Cox (5-7, 170 senior) as a running back.

“KC Berry (5-11, 160 junior) moved from receiver to running back. Presley Newkirk is playing both sides. He’s a talented running back who will be starting in the secondary.”

Slotback Chris Richmond (5-8, 145 junior) will be joined by wide receivers Tequan Taylor (6-1, 170 senior), Desmond Coleman (5-11, 145 junior) and Fa’Rel Carter (5-11, 150 freshman).

The kicker will be Ashton Vogel (6-0, 150 sophomore).

The Hawks have several goals, beginning with the Mid-State Conference.
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“The Mid-State is one of the top conferences in the state,” Enright noted. “Winning conference is a big deal; it’s our No. 1 goal.”

​This junior varsity running back has defenders on the run during preseason practice at Devere Fair Stadium.

​(Photos courtesy Andy Hofer)
Coach Andy Hofer, center, with golfers, Cohen Hennessy, Oliver Perkins, Ethan Huntsman, Casey Chisham and Jacob Starnes, show off their ribbons after taking third in the Crispus Attucks sectional tournament and advancing to the regional. 

By Steve Page
Correspondent

Good and getting better.

That’s the opinion of Decatur Central boys’ golf coach Andy Hofer after the Hawks completed another successful season at the June 11 IHSAA regional tournament at Country Oaks Golf Club in the southern Indiana town of Washington.

DC concluded its year by shooting a team total of 403 strokes in the state’s penultimate round.

“It was a good year,” Hofer said. “We’re really excited to see what next year has to offer.”

For the Hawks, just getting to the regional was a feat in itself. They took the third, and final, qualifying spot in the Crispus Attucks sectional at South Grove. They totaled 363 strokes, three better than Ben Davis.

“We have two really solid schools in the sectional – Brebeuf and Covenant Christian,” Hofer noted, “but we played well enough to beat Ben Davis and secure that third spot.

“We got out. We didn’t do it in spectacular fashion, but it was a decent score, better than all the other schools.”

To arrive at that juncture, DC needed a team effort. Casey Chisham led the way by carding a round of 47-38—85. Cohen Hennessy and Oliver Perkins shot identical rounds of 44-48—92. Ethan Huntsman capped the team scoring at 44-50—94. Jacob Starnes, competing in the fifth, tie-breaking spot, finished at 52-56—106.
The coach offered a look at each of his regulars, especially in the sectional advancement.

“Casey Chisham shot 85. He’s a senior, so we will be losing him,” Hofer said. “That will be a big loss for our team. He brought a lot of leadership to the team.

“Cohen Hennessy is coming back as a junior. He played Number 1 most of the year, and should be a great asset the next couple years.

“Oliver Perkins shot 92 as well. So he will be good for next year. He’s a hockey player. The hockey and golf schedules do not mesh well, but he played No. 4. He came in as a sophomore, and really helped the team.
“Ethan Huntsman rounded out the Top 4 that day. He’ll be a senior next year, and will be a really good player. He shot 88 in the Ritter Invite at Eagle Creek. He was our top scorer there in our opening tournament. I really think he’s got more to offer.

“Jacob Starnes played in the Top 5. He will be a senior next year. He was our most improved player, last year to this year. He really worked on his game. He was in the mid-40’s most of the year, so I’m really encouraged. He played in the sectional and the regional. If we gave an award for most improved, Jacob Starnes would probably win that one.”

There’s more. Much more, according to Hofer.

“We have six returners next year, and our middle school coach says he had 13 players this year,” the coach said. “That’s really encouraging to see growth in our feeder system. We’re seeing the benefits of the middle-school program.

“We have the head pro at Winding River, Doug Rushton, as an assistant. It really helps our program, having him. We want to keep growing next year.”

​Decatur Central’s golfers pose with coach Andy Hofer for their team picture at the IHSAA regional tournament at Country Oaks.