Hartsock: What I learned during Week 1 of high school football

The Greenon Knights are no longer that ‘easy’ win on a team’s schedule. I watched on the sidelines Friday night as Josh Wooten’s team put 56 points on a Springfield Shawnee team that was coming off a trip to the playoffs.

»RELATED: Week 1 roundup

It was the first time in 10 years that Greenon won a season opening game, and I’m not sure when the last time the Knights scored that many points in a game. I checked scores back through the 2000 season and if it happened, it was before that.

Cade Rice is the real deal running the Knights offense. The junior quarterback will have his choice of division one offers to choose from by the time he’s done at Greenon.

Carrying on in Coldwater

While we’re talking about quarterbacks, Jake Hemmelgarn got his senior season off to a great start. The Coldwater quarterback completed 21-of-24 passes for 286 yards and four touchdowns, and he ran for two more scores in the Cavaliers’ 42-7 win over Kenton.

Chip Otten’s team has a brutal road schedule this season. The Cavs are at Mt. Healthy this week, with trips to Minster, Anna and Marion Local also on the schedule down the line.

Doing it with defense

I watched Alter snap a two-game losing streak to Fairmont on Thursday night and for my money, the best player on the field was Trey Baker. I don’t think there is a better defensive player in the area than the Firebirds linebacker who has started all four seasons at Fairmont.

Another black eye for the City League

I spent part of Saturday night at Welcome Stadium watching Dunbar open against Roger Bacon.

I left before a Wolverines player had an incident with one of the officials.

Watching the video of the incident, Dunbar coaches responded quickly when things started to get out of hand and Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Lolli says the district is dealing with the player involved.

When you consider a high school football official gets paid $70 a game, you assume that nobody does it for the money. Let’s just hope an incident like this doesn’t make more of them wonder why they do it at all.