HN takes sectional football title after 31 years
Hat Tip, Katelynn Farley
The crowd was nothing short of electric at Lebanon High School on Friday, November 8, with the Huntington North High School Vikings taking on the Lebanon Tigers in a battle for the 2024 football Sectional title. With the game going into overtime, it was a
successful 31-yard field goal by Johan Von Sandersleben that earned the Vikings their first sectional title since 1993.
It took HNHS a little while to hit their stride during this game. The Tigers were the first to draw blood, earning their first touchdown with 3:56 left to go in the first quarter and immediately gaining another touchdown in the second quarter to bring the score 14-0. With 9:45 left in the half, HNHS finally made it on the board and tied it all up with a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Anthony Decker. With 5:13 left in the half, Decker then made a 22-yard rushing touchdown to tie things up.
Going into the second half, the energy from both sides of the field only grew more intense. Fans lined the fences to get a closer look at the action, and cheers and chants could be heard from one side of the field to the next. Luckily for Huntington North fans, it was the Vikings that earned the first touchdown of the second half with a successful 40-yard pass from Decker to Caden Moore. With the extra point good, HNHS gained the lead 21-14.
With 6:12 left in the third quarter, Lebanon’s Jackson Folden completed a 45-yard pass to Jaden Ranney which earned them their next touchdown, tying things back up. Just three minutes into the fourth quarter, Lebanon earned their next touchdown thanks to a 19-yard pass from Folden to Jay Pollock. Huntington’s Decker had to complete a 55-yard pass to Caiden Pohler in order for HNHS to tie things back up, sending the game into overtime.
Although Lebanon had the first possession in OT, Huntington’s defense held and Lebanon turned over possession on downs. It was fourth down for the Vikings when Von Sandersleben made the successful field goal to win the school’s first Sectional title since 1993.
Fans rushed the field to celebrate with their Viking football players and coaches. Head coach Mike Eshbach said he was “super super happy for [the] kids and our program, beyond what words can express.”
Emotions were high for many in attendance, especially for parents and their players. Cale Eckert, step-father to Huntington’s number 17 Sullivan Stahl, expressed his pride and gratitude for the program.
“We’re so fortunate, happy and proud to be a part of the Huntington team and see everything that they’ve done.[We’re] so proud of these seniors and the team and coaches and it’s really a blessing to see them accomplish everything that they’ve wanted to.”
“It’s so well deserved,” added Kristen Eckert, Stahl’s mother.
Next for the Vikings is a trip to East Noble High School to take on the 11-1 Knights on Friday, November 15.
For more photos from the Sectional title game, visit Greenbear Digital Media on Facebook or go to https://www.greenbeardigitalmedia.com/categories/sporting-events .
