(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY STEVE PAGE)
Correspondent
It wasn’t exactly a miracle, but after two stirring Decatur Central comeback victories in the first two weeks of the football season, the Hawks found good news of an entirely different sort this time.
Sophomore quarterback Bo Polston, who had engineered comebacks in the first two weeks, was driving the Hawks downfield against Whiteland on Friday when disaster struck.
Hit hard on a running play up the middle with 4:46 remaining in the first half, Polston fell prone to the turf and did not move.
Trainers and medics from both Decatur Central and Whiteland rushed to his aid, followed shortly by paramedics from the Whiteland Fire Department. They braced him for an apparent neck injury.
They placed Polston on a stretcher. As they wheeled him toward a waiting ambulance, the Hawks formed a cordon, applauding and offering words of support. The ambulance then transported him to a hospital.
The good news for the Hawks was that by Sunday, he was much better, according to Hawk coach Kyle Enright.
“We are very thankful that Bo did not suffer any major injuries from the play,” he said. “As his coach, I am very proud of how the training staff, medical team, coaches, players and fans responded during a very emotional and scary event.
“There was nothing dirty or illegal about the tackle. The young man did what he was coached to do but, unfortunately in football, these things happen. But Bo’s family was very thankful for the actions that were taken to help Bo.
“He will be back and ready to play again when the doctors and medical team clear him to play. And that is great news.”
The game news was not so great.
Whiteland, with the defense making big plays, stopped the Hawks 31-15.
Though backup quarterback Brycen Bonawitt, a junior, battled, the Hawks struggled offensively.
The Warriors helped force several missed snaps, including one that bounced into the DC end zone and was recovered by defensive end Scott Harden, who also scored on a deflected pass interception.
“Whiteland played a good football game,” Enright said. “Hats off to their players and their staff. The Hawks made too many mistakes and unforced errors to execute at the level it takes to beat a quality football team. We will continue to work to get those things corrected and be a better football team in the long run for it.”
Until the injury, this was looking like another back-and-forth battle for the Hawks.
After the Hawk kickoff returner, blinded by the setting sun, fumbled the opening kickoff, the Warriors recovered on the DC 16.
The defense rose up to stop Whiteland, forcing a 31-yard field goal by Noah Pope.
Polston then directed the Hawks on an eight-play, 78-yard march, capped by a seven-yard run by Fa’Rel Carter and Ashton Vogel’s conversion kick.
The score remained 7-3 until the Warriors blocked a punt by Polston and scored two plays later.
Polston was directing the Hawks downfield again when the injury happened.
With the Warriors relentlessly pressuring Bonawitt, DC struggled on offense the rest of the game.
Bonawitt scored on a one-yard run and then passed to wide receiver Chris Richmond for a two-point conversion for the final margin with 3:45 to play.
“Our kids are tough and smart and understand that we have to move forward and get ready for the next battle by competing daily, focusing on the details and committing to teammates and coaches,” Enright said. “I have no doubt this group will do that. On to Martinsville.”
The Hawks host the Artesians in another MSC battle at 7 p.m. Friday.