Behind commanding defensive stands and contributions from seniors Sam Swensen, Maverick Peterson, and Isaac Hamilton, the Comets defeated the Underwood Rockets 18-6, closing out the regular season.
The most encouraging part of the night wasn't the win that added to the Comets’ record. For Head Coach Korey Fry, it was watching his team put together four quarters of disciplined, physical football. "We played solid defensively. This was our best game putting it together for 48 minutes," Fry said. "We tackled well in space and controlled the line against a strong running team." This was an important movement for the Comets as they eye a playoff run, especially because they came ready to play.
The Comets wasted little time establishing control from the opening kick. Senior quarterback Sam Swensen scampered for an 8-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, putting Hillcrest up 6-0, scoring the only points on the board in the opening frame. In the second quarter, Eli Walkup powered into the end zone on a 9-yard run, extending the Comets’ advantage to 12-0.
The most exciting play of the game came shortly before the half, when Swensen found fellow senior Maverick Peterson for a 24-yard touchdown pass, giving the Comets an 18-0 halftime lead on Senior Night. The connection fit the occasion and highlighted Swensen’s leadership, as he completed 12 of 14 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown without throwing an interception. His accuracy and decision-making helped Hillcrest establish its offensive rhythm early.
Peterson was equally influential in the Comet win, catching five passes for 72 yards and a touchdown, adding a 22-yard rush, and returning four punts for 75 yards. He also contributed 4.5 tackles defensively. Senior Isaac Hamilton joined him in the stat column and was equally important to the Senior Night win. Hamilton caught four passes for 29 yards, recorded 7.5 tackles, and intercepted an Underwood pass. The three seniors made their presence felt across nearly every phase of the game, providing leadership through their actions and giving the Comets the momentum they needed.
While the seniors helped build the lead, Hillcrest's defense made certain it would hold. Facing an Underwood offense committed to running the football, the Comets controlled the line of scrimmage and limited the Rockets to just 92 rushing yards on 34 attempts, an average of only 2.7 yards per carry. Underwood managed just 74 passing yards as they sought a solution to the Comet gum sticking up the line. The Rockets were held scoreless through the first three quarters.
Aiding the seniors in locking down the Comet win was Walkup, who led Hillcrest with nine tackles, continuing his strong two-way contributions after rushing for 60 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Hamilton followed with 7.5 tackles, while Xander Knutson recorded six. Peterson and Jude Moline each contributed 4.5 tackles. Hamilton and Gunnar Ronnevik forced takeaways for the Comet defense, snatching interceptions to stop Rocket drives throughout the night.
The Rocketsreached the end zone in the fourth quarter when Brock Lenoue connected with John Gronner for a 4-yard touchdown. They made the game interesting in the final frame, finding some windows to stretch the field against the Comets, who bent but didn’t break in the final minutes of the contest.
"Offensively, we're right there. We have good moments, and we have moments where we make mistakes," Fry noted, reflecting on the night. "We have to play mistake-free football. I believe we're going to see it come together really soon offensively."
For Hillcrest's seniors, Wednesday represented another milestone in a journey shaped by early practices, demanding workouts, difficult losses, hard-earned victories, and trust built in challenging times along the way. The Comets close the season with a 4-3 record and are geared up for a run in playoffs.