{"id":91746,"date":"2025-11-03T14:09:35","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T20:09:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=91746"},"modified":"2025-11-03T14:09:37","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T20:09:37","slug":"hutchinson-trinity-advances-in-1a-playoff-quinter-wraps-season-with-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=91746","title":{"rendered":"Hutchinson-Trinity advances in 1A Playoff, Quinter wraps season with victory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Tiger Media Nework<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kerns, defense lead Hutchinson-Trinity past Plainville in 1A playoff opener<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By GARRETT WELLBROCK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

HUTCHINSON \u2014 For Hutchinson-Trinity Catholic Head Coach Jordan Bell, Friday night\u2019s 20-0 playoff win over Plainville was about physicality, field position, and execution \u2014 three hallmarks of postseason football.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe game against Plainville was a tough game against a quality, well-coached team,\u201d Bell said. \u201cOur defense and special teams did a tremendous job giving our offense short fields on our scoring drives. It was a tight, physical playoff game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Celtics\u2019 formula worked to perfection. Behind a defense that recorded six sacks and a ground attack led by senior Luke Kerns, Hutchinson-Trinity (7-2) methodically controlled the tempo in the opening round of the Class 1A State Playoffs, shutting out a Plainville team that had been searching for consistency all season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kerns scored all three of the Celtics\u2019 touchdowns, finishing with 91 rushing yards on 18 carries. His first came midway through the opening quarter on a 4-yard plunge, capping a seven-play, 52-yard opening drive. After both teams exchanged punts, Trinity\u2019s special teams swung the momentum \u2014 Isaac Hammersmith blocked a Plainville punt, and the Celtics recovered deep in Cardinal territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five plays later, Kerns powered in from the 2-yard line, and a two-point conversion on a reverse to Kaid McElgunn made it 14-0 in the second quarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plainville showed a spark late in the half when quarterback Joey Dintino hit Davyn Willeford for 42 yards down to the Trinity 15. But a botched snap two plays later ricocheted off a motion man, and Bentyn Chastain pounced on it for the Celtics \u2014 a pure example of Plainville\u2019s night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cardinals (3-5) moved the ball at times but struggled to finish drives, going 0-for-9 on third downs and failing to score on two red zone trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur season has been full of ups and downs,\u201d Plainville Head Coach Alex McMillian said before the game. \u201cWe\u2019ve battled through adversity and injuries, but we continue to fight each and every game. We\u2019ve seen glimpses of our potential and truly feel like we haven\u2019t played our best ball yet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite that fight, Trinity\u2019s defensive line \u2014 led by Lucas Griffith, who tallied 6 sacks \u2014 proved relentless. Griffith\u2019s third sack of the first half ended a promising Cardinal drive, and two more in the fourth quarter sealed the shutout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hutchinson-Trinity\u2019s final score came early in the fourth when Kerns bounced outside for a 15-yard touchdown, his third of the night. The Celtics finished with 189 total yards, converting 4-of-9 third downs and going 3-for-3 in the red zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, the Celtics prepare for a tougher test on the road. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have a tough matchup in our next playoff game against Republic County,\u201d Bell said. \u201cIt\u2019s always difficult to play on the road in the playoffs. They\u2019re 8-1 with their only loss to a 2A school, and they\u2019re playing with a lot of confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Plainville, the loss ends a season that began with high expectations but was marred by inconsistency. For Hutchinson-Trinity, it\u2019s another step forward \u2014 a statement win built on defense, discipline, and doing the little things right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n


Bulldogs end on high note, build momentum for next season<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By KYLER ROWDEN-STUM<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

QUINTER – The Quinter Bulldog football team finished its season the way most teams hope for – with a win and a vision for the future. After a year of growth, grit, and developing young talent, the Bulldogs closed out the 2025 campaign with a 42-36 victory on their home field against Hoxie on Thursday, setting the tone for what\u2019s to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bulldog Head Coach Cody Corwin said the biggest story of the year was how the team came together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt took a while, but the boys all bought in and they loved every part of this,\u201d Corwin said. \u201cWe had to fill a couple of spots after seniors graduated last year, but we returned a bunch, and all those kids really took leadership to a whole new level. With three or four freshmen seeing the field pretty constantly, we needed that leadership \u2014 and they delivered.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Corwin, ending the season with a win carries extra weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEnding on a win is always the easiest going into the next seven months,\u201d he said. \u201cYou have a good taste in your mouth. Both Kale (Hargitt) and Colt (Werth) were voted captains by the team \u2014 it doesn\u2019t take long to see why. Those two set the standard every week.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That leadership showed on the field, especially from senior Hargitt, who played his final game as a Bulldog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was emotional,\u201d Hargitt said. \u201cWas it a game we should have been in? Maybe not, but we battled. Hoxie\u2019s a great team, you\u2019ve got to give them their flowers. Still, I wouldn\u2019t want to end it any other way \u2014 winning on my home field, with my teammates sending me out right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hargitt said this season was just the beginning of what\u2019s next for Quinter athletics \u2014 not just in football, but across the board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re returning almost our whole basketball team, too,\u201d he said. \u201cThis freshman class is talented, and once December rolls around, we\u2019ll be firing on all cylinders. We\u2019re a team to look out for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Werth, a junior for the Bulldogs, echoed the energy and optimism of the locker room after the final whistle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe knew Hoxie versus Quinter is a big rivalry,\u201d Werth said. \u201cWe came out fired up, hit them hard early, and knew we couldn\u2019t let them hang around. At halftime, we decided to finish it \u2014 and we did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking ahead to next fall, Werth already has his eyes set on the offseason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re only losing one senior, and we\u2019ve got those freshmen turning into sophomores \u2014 that\u2019s huge,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re all going to hit the weight room hard this summer. Everyone\u2019s excited. Everybody\u2019s buying in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Corwin said that buy-in is exactly what fuels his optimism for 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs clich\u00e9 as it sounds, we just want to come out every day and get better,\u201d he said. \u201cWe finished last year with 10 kids on the roster. This year, we ended with 15. Things are moving in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With momentum building, a growing roster, and the core of the team returning, Quinter\u2019s future looks bright. The Bulldogs may have closed one chapter, but as Corwin puts it – the story is just beginning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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