GROTON -- Under the Friday night lights of Ross Field, Groton head coach Nick Dyson gathered his squad at midfield to make an announcement regarding their starting quarterback.
“Jaiden Mitchell had himself a game,” Dyson said after breaking down the huddle. “He wasn’t a captain before the game, I just announced to him at the end there that he’s our fourth captain, so a great night for him to come into his own.”
For the senior signal caller for the Red Hawks, the promotion was certainly earned. In a 30-20 victory over Red Jacket Friday, Mitchell and his team beat the Cardinals through the air for two passing touchdowns, adding another dimension to an already formidable offense.
“We put the ball in the air a little more than we expected to,” Dyson said. “I have to give Red Jacket credit, they came in with their corners on the edge and we had to make some adjustments at halftime.”
The passing game opened things up for the running game, with running back Lane Darling turning another standout performance highlighted by a 21-yard touchdown. He also made the 2-point conversion.
Mitchell, Darling and company’s offensive showcase was mirrored by an impressive night for the Red Hawks’ defense. The unit forced four turnovers in a game that saw the concept of ball security go out the window in the second half.
“It’s always our goal to have fewer turnovers than the other team,” Dyson said. “We were aiming to have three turnovers on the defensive side, and we definitely accomplished that. We had a couple turnovers on offense that were kind of silly, to be honest. We have to protect the ball more.”
The Red Hawks did have trouble protecting the ball on a wet field, with four turnovers of their own. Two of these turnovers came at the hands of Cardinals lineman Truman Hill, who blocked back-to-back punts.
Hill, who also had four receptions and a touchdown, played a huge role in keeping his squad in the game. The Red Hawks never let their opponent get too close.
When the Cardinals tied the game at six apiece in the second quarter, it looked like they had figured the Red Hawks out. That’s when junior kick returner Brett Deuel fielded the ensuing kickoff at his own 28 yard line and took it to the house, putting his squad back on top where it would remain for the rest of the game.
Deuel’s special teams wizardry showcased the spirit of a Red Hawks squad that’s unbeaten to begin their season.
“It’s really about grit and grinding one out,” Dyson said. “I was telling the guys it mirrored Greene last year, when we had a couple guys and we gritted one out. These guys gave us a fight and we were able to do what we do best, control the trenches and come up with the win in the end.”
The Red Hawks will look to remain perfect when they face off against the aforementioned Greene at 7 p.m. Friday at Ross Field.
