The #5(1A)South Hardin football team will play their first home playoff game since 2020, as they host Pella Christian in the first round of the Class 1A playoffs on Friday. This will be the first ever meeting between the programs.
South Hardin (7-1) took care of business on both sides of the ball in a 39-6 win at Columbus Catholic to close the regular season last week. The balance of the 1,000 yard duo of quarterback Peyton Welch with 1,359 passing yards and 17 touchdowns, and running back Jaxon Drury with 1,025 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns (tied for third most in 1A) has helped propel the Tigers. Lucas Perry helps lead the defense with 37.5 tackles.
South Hardin Head Coach Nick Eller on playing sound football with urgency.
“We’re not taking anybody lightly, not taking anything for granted, not taking a play off here and there, knowing there’s a sense of urgency,” says Eller. “When you get in the playoffs, everyone’s gonna bring their best football, give you their best stuff, and you’ve got to be able to handle that and roll with the punches. We need to have a steady, even flow kind of attitude. We need to play good, sound, balanced football, offensive-wise, running the ball, throwing the ball, keeping ahead of the sticks. We are playing our best when we’re keeping different guys involved, not just using one or two guys only, that’s a key for us throughout the entire playoffs here. Defensively, same thing, when we’re clicking with all 11 getting to the ball, and all 11 doing their job, we seem to be pretty good.”
Pella Christian (3-5) put together a 35-0 shutout win over Colfax-Mingo in their regular season finale last week. The Eagles also present experienced quarterback and running back leadership through Brecken Ritzert with 717 passing yards and 10 touchdowns, and Cooper Spronk with 623 on the ground and six touchdowns.
Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. in Eldora.
