The Southridge Suns recently opened league play with one of their biggest victories, defeating Chiawana 30-27 on Sept. 17 for their first win over the Riverhawks in program history.
The game came down to the final seconds as junior kicker Ethan Meek connected on a 30-yard field goal to secure the victory. The Suns now stand 1-0 in Mid-Columbia Conference play and 2-1 overall, putting them fourth in the 3A/4A Mid-Columbia standings, after beating Cheney 29-9 and losing 30-24 to Eastmont.
Southridge’s win is an early example of the confidence that Suns head coach Matt Johnson identified as one of the team’s biggest strengths.
“They’re also building confidence,” Johnson said on The Sports Council. “I think that’s the best thing going for us. We have confidence when we’re stepping on the field on Friday nights.”
That confidence has been supported by a seasoned senior class that has already played significant football at the varsity level.
“We have a senior class that has played a lot of football,” said Johnson. “They started a lot of games as sophomores…it’s their time to shine and be a part of the senior part of this team.”
One of those seniors is running back Tayton Jackman, a second-team all-league selection last season. He has rushed for 291 yards through the Suns’ first three games. Against Chiawana, he added 81 rushing yards and 12 tackles, showing his impact on both sides of the ball.
“He does everything at an elite level for us,” said Johnson.
Senior quarterback Austin Hazenberg has completed 17 of 27 passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns this season. His strongest passing performance came against Chiawana, where he completed 8 of 12 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown.
Jacob Korotkov is another senior who has stepped up for Southridge. The running back and linebacker has rushed for 347 yards and five touchdowns this season. He also scored twice against Chiawana, helping lead his team to the historic win.
Sophomore wide receiver and defensive back Stockton Parrish has recorded 13 catches for 179 yards and four touchdowns through three games.
That experience and team depth has also helped Southridge develop a stronger identity as a program, something Johnson said has become noticeable heading into the season.
“It’s starting to feel like it’s being a program versus being a team,” said Johnson. “We expect to win football games.”
For Southridge, the win against the Riverhawks was an important moment for the program and another sign of the confidence Johnson talked about entering the season. The Suns will look to carry that momentum into their next game against Kamiakin on Sept. 25.