Hawken's Anderson Smashes Way to 5 TDs in Big Win

Western Reserve Academy’s bizarre non-punting, non-kicking style left Hawken coach rather baffled with onside kicks after scores and no punts on fourth down.

But whatever confusion the Pioneers wrought, Hawken running back was right there to clarify matters Friday evening.

Anderson, a junior, ran 24 times for 196 yards and scored five touchdowns as the Hawks defeated the tactics of WRA for a season-opening home win, 40-14.

The Hawks pounded out 334 total yards of offense, all on the ground. had 73 yards and 57.

Although Anderson produced gaudy numbers, he fumbled twice which helped the Pioneers rally from a 14-0 halftime deficit to tie the game in the third quarter. Nonetheless, Walton was quite impressed with Anderson’s play as he replaces AP All-State selection who graduated after last season.

“We felt he has the potential to be a really, really nice running back,” Walton said. “He had a good night. When he gets carries like that, playing defense, running around and all the things he does, that’s a heavy load. We have to get him to secure the ball more. He ran the ball well, obviously.”

Two Anderson TD runs of 3 and 4 yards put the Hawks up, 14-0, at halftime before Austin Petschke found Johnny Saucier for a 65-yard TD pass, and Saucier found Eli Dawson for a 26-yard TD connection in the third quarter.

But Anderson turned the tide with a 14-yard TD scamper later in the third quarter, and the Pioneers never scored again.

“The significant thing for us is how our players responded,” Walton said of the third quarter. “It’s a young team at the beginning of the season, and you want to see how they are going to react to some of these situations. We got the drive and the go-ahead score.”

Anderson restored order with TD runs of 39 and 3 yards, along with Andrew Wakefield’s 52-yard interception return in the fourth quarter. The Hawks finished with two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

“Fortunately, the fourth quarter went well. We stopped them, got some turnovers and we got the interception by Andrew Wakefield who took it for six. We had a comfortable lead back again, certainly more comfortable than it had been,” Walton said.

The Hawks next travel to Lutheran West for a 7 p.m. Friday start.

Western Reserve Academy  0  0  14  0  14

Hawken                                   7  7  6  20  40

First Quarter

Hawken – Anderson 3 run (Bell kick)

Second Quarter

Hawken – Anderson 4 run (Bell kick)

Third Quarter

Western Reserve – Saucier 65 pass from Petschke (Trau kick)

Western Reserve – Dawson 26 pass from Saucier (Trau kick)

Hawken – Anderson 14 run (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

Hawken – Anderson 39 run (pass failed)

Hawken – Wakefield 52 interception return (Bell kick)

Hawken – Anderson 3 run (Bell kick)