Not rain, nor gusting winds, nor ankle deep forty degree mud, nor visiting Panthers could slow the Pirates Friday night, hosting the Corydon (4-3 & 3-2 MSC) in the Bone Yard.  The Pirates racked up 458 yards of offensive Friday night, while holding the highly touted Corydon tandem of Kopp and Buck to just 235 yards of total offense.  Panther Junior RB Austin Kopp came into the contest averaging near 220 rushing yards per game, and was held to 111 yards (including a 69 yard break away touchdown run) by the Pirate Defense.

Corydon and Charlestown spent the first quarter trading two touchdown runs apiece for a 16-13 Pirate advantage after one complete.  Gaddie scored Charlestown’s first two touchdowns on scoring runs of 3 and 48 yards respectively.  The Pirates forced the Panthers to fumble the ball nine times, four of which were lost.  Charlestown (5-2 & 4-2 MSC) led 24-13 at halftime after Junior Pirate QB Brendan Lawler scamped through the mud for 28 yard touchdown score just before the break.

The Pirates opened the second half with the ball, after winning the coin toss and deferring before the start.  Junior RB Antoyno Gaddie, on the first play from scrimmage in the second half, broke free of four tackles and scored on a 66 yard carry to stretch the lead to 32-13.  Charlestown finished the night a perfect seven for seven in two point conversion attempts.  The Gaddie score seemed to break the drive of the visitors, but then another fumble gave the ball back to the Pirates when Junior QB Brendan Lawler scored on a 55 yard touchdown scramble to increase the Pirate lead to 27 with 4:59 remaining in the third.  Charlestown scored a third time in the third when Lawler hit Junior WR Garrett Woods for a 40 yard touchdown pass.  Gaddie, who finished the game with 209 rushing yards, added a ten yard rushing score with 10:37 remaining in the game; after Corydon’s Kopp broke free for a 69 yard touchdown run.  Brendan Lawler finished the game with 2 of 6 for 92 yards passing and 140 yards of rushing on 11 carries.  Simon Woolrdige led the Pirate defense with 13 tackles by games end; and was named the Coyle Chevy, Buick, GMC & Coyle Nissan Defensive Player of the Game.  Gaddie was named the Offensive Player of the Game, in the 56-19 win.

The Pirates, who had been averaging seven penalties a game, cleaned it up Friday night to just two for 32 yards.  The Pirates travel to Providence (2-5) next Friday for a none conference showdown with the Pioneers at 7:00 pm.

Charlestown JV Football hosted their Brownstown Braves counterparts Monday evening at Dutch Reis Field.  After spotting the visiting Braves an 8-0 lead, the defense shored things up and the offense got going as well to come back and win 19-8.  Offensively, carries were split between Nathan Thomas, Amado Gomez, and Kain Blankenship.  Nathan also rushed for two touchdowns.  Logan Gurr completed four passes for 70 yards to Mitch Wurtsmith, one of those for a go ahead TD to gain a 12-8 lead.  Calvin McClelland also coverted a PAT kick. Mitch was named the offensive player of the game; while defensively, interior line play was strong by Aden Dennison and Sean Baker.  Max Mitchell provided pressure off the edge and Dakota Porter added an interception.  Aden was named the defensive player of the game with 9 tackles.  The JV Pirate team is now 2-0 and 1-0 in MSC play.

Congratulations to Tate “T8” Boley! During Charlestown Pirate Football’s 31-30 season opener win over Madison, “T8” received a Madison punt and returned it for a 90 yard Touchdown; setting a New Charlestown High School Football Record for the Longest Punt Return for a Touchdown. The previous record (85 yards TD return) was set in 1986 by Jeff VanMeter, versus Corydon.

Charlestown Pirate JV Football traveled to Madison Saturday morning and put a 33-0 thumping on Madison using a “great team effort in every aspect of the game”, commented Assistant Coach David Daniel.  The game marked the team’s season opener, and set well with the coaching staff……”Very proud of all of them”, Coach Daniel added.  The JV Pirate offense was led by Nathan Thomas with touchdown runs of 5, 10, and 55 yards respectfully.  Logan Gurr added a 15 yard touchdown run and another 20 yard TD pass to Brian Wolter.  Thomas was recognized as the team’s offensive player of the game while the JV Pirate defense was led by Kane Blankenship.  Blankenship, recognized as the team’s defensive player of the game, finished the contest with 11 tackles and 3 pass breakups.  Mitch Wurtsmith and Darian Crawford both added an interception apiece for the winning team.   Dalton Bowen converted on three PAT’s and had a touchback on one kickoff.

Charlestown Pirate Pride Sports Broadcasting, in cooperation with Ctown.TV, present the seventh annual Pirate Football Season Preview Show.  The video show was recorded preceding this year’s Blue-White Scrimmage on the campus of Charlestown High School and features Pirate Football Head Coach Jason Hawkins; as well as Assistant Coaches Chris Brafford and Dave Daniel.  The 2015 Pirate Football Season Preview Show is available for viewing by going to www.PiratePride.BLUE/Broadcasting/PreseasonShows or via www.CPPSB.com and selecting “Preseason Shows”.  Charlestown Pirate Pride Sports Broadcasting’s coverage of Pirate Football is sponsored by Bill Broughton Trucking and Excavating, Papa Johns Pizza, Grayson Funeral Homes, Subway, Field’s Custom Cabinets, and the Charlestown Pizza Company.  Special thanks to Ctown.TV and the video production crew of John and Chris Spencer.

The Annual Pirate Football Blue-White Scrimmage will be held next Friday, August 7th on Dutch Reis Field…..with a new twist!  A “Total Team REVIEW” Pirate Football Friday Night Lights Opener.  Watch ALL PIRATE FOOTBALL TEAMS Scrimmage, from Charlestown Little Pirate Football, to Charlestown Middle School Pirate Football, and of course…Charlestown High School Pirate Football!!!! Admission is $2.00 with a new start time of 6:00 pm at Charlestown High School.  Pirate Football will scrimmage at Floyd Central the following Friday (Aug. 14th); then host Madison for the regular season opener on Friday, August 21st at 7:00 pm.  #NoRegrets #PirateNation

PIRATE NATION,

I would like to thank Dr. Melin, GCCS School Board, Mr. Laughner, Mr. Gilbert and the hiring committee for giving me this opportunity. Being away last year made me realize how much I love Charlestown: the community, the schools, the kids, and most of all, the football program. Charlestown is the best football community in Southern Indiana and I think I took that for granted before. I realize relationships and trust will need to be restored. I look forward to the opportunity to meet and talk with all of you. I realized I have a lot of friends and people that care about me and my family in this small town and I plan on showing you how much I care. My daughter, Laney summed it up best a few weeks back, “a year ago today, you messed up my whole life.” She cried when I left and cried when I told her I was coming back. My number 1 fan is happy again (1st relationship restored).

I cannot believe that I get a 2nd chance to coach and teach at the best school and football program in Southern Indiana. Thanks again to everyone that made this dream a reality.
Happy to be back,

Jason Hawkins