PUBLISHED IN THE AUGUST 30, 2023 DECATUR TOWNSHIP ZONED EDITION
After racing past the New Palestine secondary, wide receiver Chris Richmond catches a pass from quarterback Bo Polston. The play covered 38 yards and gave the Hawks their first touchdown at Devere Fair Stadium.
(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY STEVE PAGE)
After setting up behind his blockers, including Malachai Marlin (64), Halbert Aguirre (35) and Tyler Cooper (72), Decatur Central quarterback Bo Polston throws to Fa’Rel Carter (1) in Friday’s home game with New Palestine. The two hooked up for 11 completions.
| By Steve Page Correspondent As his teammates celebrated all around, Ashton Vogel was asked how it felt to pull off another crazy football comeback. Decatur Central was hotter than Friday’s weather, rallying from a nine-point deficit with just under six minutes remaining to stun New Palestine 43-42 at Devere Fair Stadium. “Oh my gosh, yes!” the Hawks’ junior kicker exclaimed. “It was awesome!” All the Hawks, prompted by their coaches, said this was more of a prizefight than a football shootout between DC, ranked second in Class 5A, and New Palestine, No. 2 in 4A. There were heroes aplenty for the Hawks, who had opened the season a week earlier with a last-second, 18-14 victory at Columbus North. Vogel kicked field goals of 40 yards as time expired in the first half, 44 yards to bring DC within 35-33 with nine minutes to play, and after New Pal had scored, 46 yards with 5:13 remaining to cut the deficit to 42-36. Sophomore quarterback Bo Polston completed 24 of 43 passes without an interception for 355 yards and two touchdowns. Speedy senior Chris Richmond caught both, covering 38 and 48 yards. “We decided to get up off the canvas after getting knocked down and throw that last punch,” Polston said. “It was awesome!” Richmond finished with six receptions for 176 yards. Another sophomore, Fa’Rel Carter, caught 11 passes for 74 yards, including eight and five yards on the winning 48-yard, six-play drive. Junior running back N’Po Dodo rushed for touchdowns of one and 27 yards. DC had to overcome a spectacular night by Dragon senior Grayson Thomas, who rushed 23 times for 234 yards and four touchdowns. To properly prepare despite the heat, the Hawks changed their practice routine. They worked out some in Armstrong Pavilion and also practiced in the mornings before school. The Hawk defense came up huge in the late stages. New Pal, leading 42-36 with just over two minutes remaining, drove to a fourth-and-one at its own 48. But the Hawks stuffed a run up the middle, giving the ball back to the offense with 2:14 to play. It was the fifth turnover they had forced. After Polston scored on a seven-yard, roll right run with 42.3 seconds left, Vogel kicked what proved to be the winning conversion. “That play was actually a throw to the right, but I saw the opening and had to get in there, win the game,” said Polston, who dived into the end zone. The Dragons gave it one last shot, but after two incompletions, Hawk senior KC Berry intercepted a long pass at his own 48 with 24.3 showing to seal the verdict. “If we found out anything in these last two weeks, it’s that our kids will keep fighting until the end,” DC coach Kyle Enright said. Despite having one punt partially blocked after a low snap, Vogel punted well, including one that sailed 53 yards. He also repeatedly kicked off into the end zone for touchbacks. “Ashton Vogel is a legit Division-I kicker,” Enright said. “Touchback after touchback, and his accuracy on field goals over 40 yards. He made a few tonight that he makes every day in practice. He’s an unbelievable weapon for our team.” The strategy, the coach said, was simple. “Get back off the mat and throw the next punch,” Enright said. “I couldn’t be more proud of our kids and coaches.” DC opens its Mid-State Conference season Sept. 1 when it travels to Whiteland, 1-1 and the 2022 5A state runnerup, at 7 p.m. |  Decatur Central defenders team up to stuff New Palestine quarterback Gavin Neal during Friday’s nonconference game at Devere Fair Stadium.  With fellow junior Brycen Bonawitt holding after taking the snap from center Alec Surber, Ashton Vogel steps into the conversion kick after Decatur Central’s first touchdown against New Palestine. Vogel kicked field goals of 40, 44 and 46 yards and added what proved to be the deciding conversion after quarterback Bo Polston scored on seven-yard run with 42.3 seconds to play in the Hawks’ 43-42 comeback win.  Members of the Great Oak Church pass out free water bottles to thirsty youths in the parking lot before Friday’s hot home game. The churchgoers offer different tailgate options at Hawk games, including face painting on Friday.  A game official takes a much-needed drink after a Decatur Central manager delivered a water bottle during a break in Friday’s contest. |
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