By James Howell Jr./For Daily Reporter
CHARLOTTESVILLE — So much can be determined by the Indiana High School Athletic Association’s sectional draw, and the 2021 state tournament pairings did the Eastern Hancock Royals no favors in October.
On Friday night, the Royals (5-5) opened their playoff campaign against the unbeaten No. 8 Centerville Bulldogs (9-0) and fell in defeat, 49-12.
The Royals understood points would be hard to come by against the Bulldogs. Throughout the season they gave up fewer than six points per game.
With this in mind, EH head coach Phil Morris sent his Royals out and caught the Bulldogs off guard with an onside kick to jump start momentum.
Seven plays later, the Royals found themselves in the end zone and holding a lead against the Bulldogs that rarely trailed all season.
The Bulldogs were up to the challenge and more, however.
In the next seven minutes of action, the Bulldogs used a pair of touchdowns from brothers Jamari Pamplin and Javontae Pamplin to put themselves ahead, 14-6.
Unable to come up with any momentum offensively other than short screen passes from quarterback Houston Swan to tight end Chase Riggs, the Royals were unable to make forward progress down the field.
The Swan-to-Riggs connection did total for 58 first-half yards.
While the Royals struggled, the Bulldogs continued their rapid running attack with many misdirection plays to push their lead to 21-6 before the end of the half.
To open the second half, the Royals offense was able to breathe new life into the game with a 10-play drive ending in the end zone. Swan hit Kain Sotelo on a 7-yard pass to cap off the drive.
A failed 2-point attempt left the Royals down 21-12, needing two scores to, at a minimum, draw even with the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs offense was unfazed by the momentum built by the Royals offense, as they scored within three minutes of having the ball back in their possession.
Before the end of the third quarter, the Bulldogs forced another change of possession and scored again to push their lead to 35-12.
With all momentum favoring the Bulldogs and short time, the Royals were unable to draw any closer before the end of the night.
For good measure, the Bulldogs added to their lead with 8:35 remaining on a rarely seen pass play and a 67-yard interception return for touchdown by sophomore Kollyn Peed.
The end of the season also draws the end of a record-setting career by Royals quarterback Houston Swan. With numerous MEC and school passing records, Swan goes out on a 15 of 26 passing performance for 167 yards.
Following the game. Morris shared his thoughts about the senior class that will be departing the program.
“We’ve had a great group of seniors here this year,” Morris said. “It’s painful to not be able to provide more for them, because they deserve to win. At the end of the day though, we won five ball games this year and that’s still something to hang our hat on. I’m proud of them”
Riggs, also a senior, ended the night as the team’s top receiver with six catches for 84 yards.
In total, the Royals will look to fill in their roster next year with the loss of 11 seniors: Swanson, Riggs, Cole Rainbolt, Zach Arnold, Ashton Smith, Landon O’ Neal, Evan Arthur, Caden Nation, Nick Potts, Carter Dishman, and Reed Hedrick.
Centerville 49, Eastern Hancock 12
Centerville (9-0) 14 7 14 14 — 49
Eastern Hancock (5-5) 6 0 6 0 — 12
EH—Zach Arnold 10 run (PAT missed), 9:55
C—Jamari Pamplin 12 run (Jake Erbse kick), 7:31
C—Javontae Pamplin 7 run (Erbse kick), 2:57
C— Tinkle 12 pass to Keegan Schlotterbeck (Erbse kick), 5:26
EH—Houston Swan 7 pass to Kain Sotelo (PAT Failed), 9:20
C—Jamari Pamplin 13 run (Erbse kick), 6:44
C—Jamari Pamplin 7 run (Erbse kick), 1:31
C—Tinkle 6 pass to Avery McCoy (Erbse kick), 8:35
C—Kollyn Peed 67 INT return (Erbse kick), 5:15
