Haskell expects challenge today
Fightin' Indians to open at home against 'big' South Dakota Tech
South Dakota Tech isn’t Trinity Bible College. Not by a long shot.
“It’s like a Big Mac compared to a hamburger,” Haskell Indian Nations University football coach Eric Brock said. “A hamburger is good, but a Big Mac is a lot better.”
Haskell’s players and coaches made a long bus ride last week to Ellendale, N.D., and the Fightin’ Indians recorded a 50-0 victory, their fourth straight lopsided shutout victory over the undermanned Lions.
Now they’ll meet South Dakota Tech in their home opener. Game time will be 1 p.m. today at Haskell Stadium.
Against win-starved Trinity Bible last week, Haskell bolted to a 44-0 halftime lead and outgained Trinity 392 yards to 15. Quarterback Kaleb Harris was impressive in completing six of eight passes for 151 yards and three touchdowns.
“I liked the way he handled the team,” Brock said of Harris, a sophomore from Claremore, Okla. “The offense was very crisp.”
South Dakota Tech will be hoping to bounce back from last week’s 43-13 loss to Black Hills State.
“They big,” Brock said of the Rapid City, S.D., school. “They look very sound. The other team had some big plays early and got them down.”
Freshman tailback Jerome Hofferden led the Hardrockers with 18 carries for 156 yards and two touchdowns, so he’ll be a focus for Haskell’s defense, which now features Antonio Hayes at middle linebacker.
Hayes, a 6-foot, 200-pound junior, started the last two seasons at safety, but Brock moved the Jacksonville, Fla., product to middle linebacker when projected starter A.J. Leading Fox transferred to a school to earn a criminal-justice degree.
“A.J. really wants to be an FBI agent, and we don’t offer that here,” Brock said, “so we moved Hayes there. He was a little nervous last week, but he did OK.”
Terrill Denny, a junior who logged considerable time as a reserve last season, has replaced Fox in the Haskell secondary.
Today’s meeting will be the first between the two schools. South Dakota Tech had an open date because one of the schools in its conference – Si Tanka Eagle Butte College – folded last spring.
Haskell will be on the road again Saturday, but the Indians won’t have to travel far. They’ll go to Leavenworth for a 7 p.m. meeting with the University of Saint Mary.
Probable starters
OFFENSE
FL-Cody Wilson, 6-2, 200, Sr. LT-Jerad Roberts, 6-1, 255, Jr. LG-Kelvin Starks, 6-1, 290, Jr. C-Steven Morgan, 6-1, 240, Soph. RG-Leo Martinez, 6-1, 300, Fr. RT-Chris Harris, 6-1, 285, Fr. TE-Jeff Emerich, 6-3, 215, Jr.
QB-Kaleb Harris, 6-0, 175, Soph. TB-Roland Cheresposy, 5-10, 175, Fr. FB-Sam Farve, 5-6, 190, Jr. WR-Hunter Smith, 6-0, 190, Soph.
PK-Randy Cozad, 6-0, 220, Fr.
DEFENSE
LE-Blaine Wise, 6-3, 245, Jr. NT-Catcuce Tiger, 6-0, 245, Jr. RE-Mike Harris, 6-3, 240, Soph. LLB-Andrew Cole, 6-0, 220, Sr. MLB-Antonio Hayes, 6-0, 200, Jr. RLB-John Sullivan, 5-9, 190, Soph.
S-Randy Jackson, 5-10, 165, Sr. S-Jordan Ross, 6-0, 190, Fr. CB-Cory Murphy, 5-9, 175, Soph., CB-Chris Begay, 5-9, 162, Jr. FS-Terrill Denny, 5-11, 220, Jr.
P-Victor Ramos, 5-10, 185, Fr.