Photo by Darian Hays
Adam Day was a man on a defensive mission leading the Knights’ defense in tackles against Sangamon Valley.

•October 5, 2016•

A 79 yard punt return by Adam Day in the fourth quarter gave Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Knights fans something to cheer about in the 44-10 home loss to the Sangamon Valley Storm Sept. 30.

Marcus Vanausdoll handled the two point conversion on the last score. A two point safety in the first quarter accounted for the total points.

Sangamon Valley scored 26 points in the second quarter, 12 points in the third and one touchdown in the fourth quarter to complete the Storm’s scoring total.

Day led the Knights in rushing for the evening with 36 yards on eight carries. Dakota Myers rushed for eight yards, Vanausdoll three and quarterback Will Cohan gained seven yards.

Cohan went to the air nine times with four completions for 28 yards. Vanausdoll grabbed two for 16 yards, Kobe Wells one for eight yards and Gage Ewing got a four yard catch.

Day, Dakota Myers and Jacob Larimore led the Knights in tackle points.[/s2If]

•September 28, 2016•

Okaw Valley varsity golf prevailed at Eagle Creek Sept. 20 winning 171 over Windsor’s 213 team score.

Match medalist was Austin Harshman, Okaw Valley 41 followed by Cameron Nickerson, Okaw Valley 42, Tanner Coleman, Okaw Valley 42, Zach Van Hyfte, Windsor 45 and Case Crawford, Okaw Valley 46.  Read More

•September 28, 2016•

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood Hammond football dropped their third straight contest Friday against conference foe Argenta-Oreana 46-8.  Head coach Dale Schuring credited the Bombers for being a physically gifted team.

“They did a good job taking advantage of what their athletes can do in the open field with their speed. Our kids tried the best they could. But speed kills, and you saw that tonight.”

ALAH received the opening kickoff and after three plays were set to kick the ball back to the Bombers. Unfortunately, the Knights’ talented punter Marcus Vanausdoll boomed that first punt too far.

Bomber return man Pierce Bradford took it 70 yards to the house doing his best Deion Sanders imitation from about 12 yards out. Despite multiple unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against Argenta the score counted. The Bombers added a two conversion and led 8-0 with 10:18 remaining in the first quarter.

ALAH again went three and out on their next possession. Argenta scored on the second play of that drive when a Bomber slot receiver got free for a 58 yard touchdown. After the two point conversion, the Bombers led 16-0 with eight minutes left in the first quarter.   Read More

•September 28, 2016•

Kirk Whitaker
NP Sports

In recent memory when Sullivan Okaw Valley has played Meridian in football, it has been all SOV.

This year was a little different but with the same result: a Redskin victory.

Sullivan led on both sides of the ball by senior halfback/linebacker Drew Hubbard who had 14 carries for 76 yards and the game sealing touchdown. This was all accomplished with eight inactive Redskin starters.

“Hubbard is a hard nosed kid; he plays with some passion,” Redskins’ head coach Gerald Temples complimented. “He had a good ballgame for himself and us and doesn’t avoid contact, and that’s the way the game is supposed to be played.”

It was no cheap victory though.

For the first time all season, SOV was held scoreless in the first quarter. Luckily Meridian didn’t score either. But it was with 8:27 left in the half that Meridian sophomore running back Gage Holgarth took a carry in from the 1-yard line to give the Hawks the lead before missing the PAT. Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
Kristy Burford sets up return with Kate Jeffers in Okaw Valley volleyball match with Arcola Sept. 22 in Bethany.

•September 28, 2016•

Kirk Whitaker
NP Sports

After taking down Edinburg in three sets earlier, the Okaw Valley volleyball team was looking for more momentum going into conference play with a win against Ramsey Sept. 20.

Play started out rough for the Lady ‘Wolves, but OV got back into synch taking the game in two sets 25-20, 25-16.

The early parts of both sets saw several unforced errors for the Timberwolves--Ramsey started out with a 7-3 lead with all but one point coming from Timberwolves errors.

That was before Kristy Burford had three kills, Paige Coleman added another, and Kate Jeffers served an ace to give OV the lead for good.

“We relaxed and played with less errors,” Okaw Valley head coach Jay Potter said. “Our passing was not tight tonight, but they calmed down and that was really it. Our hitters got going later on in both sets, and we were successful after that.”

And really the same thing happened in the second set, but it was Jeffers’ three consecutive aces and a kill from Burford and Coleman and Bella Benning to close it.
Read More