Royals no longer underdogs

Class A Sectional 37 Semifinals

Friday, 7 p.m.

#7 Scecina (7-3) at Knightstown (7-3)

Eastern Hancock (5-5) at Northeastern (6-4)

Championship

Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

Semifinal winners

Home team: Eastern Hancock would host vs. Knightstown. Scecina would host Eastern Hancock. Northeastern on road regardless.

***

After entering its sectional quarterfinal tilt against Hagerstown as 20-point underdogs, Eastern Hancock finds itself on the opposite end of the spectrum for its semifinal matchup against Northeastern (6-4).

The Royals will travel to Fountain City Friday as 18-point favorites in their continued pursuit of their first sectional championship in six years.

EH (5-5) is operating in the midst of a fall sports boom for the school, as the cross country team and volleyball squad recently picked up their first semistate births.

Combine that with students returning from fall break on Monday, and second-year coach Pat Echeverria conceded things have been hectic this week at EH, albeit for good reasons.

“We’ve had a couple of distractions this week,” he said. “But we’ll be ready to go Friday.”

One player Echeverria thoroughly relies on is Cooper Henderson, who is on the field for every offensive, defensive and special teams snap each game. The running back/receiver/cornerback/placekicker/punter/kick returner has his fingerprints all over EH’s resurgent season.

Henderson admits it took him a few games to adjust to playing every down, and said he conserves energy while on offense when he’s used as a decoy and/or doesn’t have to block.

“I love it,” he said. “If I go out for a play, the whole time I’m thinking I want to be back in there.”

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