Hawks strike early, rout Karns
The 2026 football season began on a winning note for Hardin Valley Academy Friday night, Aug. 21.
The Hawks dismantled geographic rival Karns, 49-0, on the road, to open the new campaign. HVA controlled and dominated in all phases of the contest, keeping the Beavers at bay all night.
The lopsided victory represented Hardin Valley’s third consecutive win dating back to last season.
The Hawks started fast as they opened a 14-0 advantage by the end of the first quarter. Hardin Valley scored its first two touchdowns with a pair of short plunges.
Beau Wise got things rolling with a 2-yard run to culminate the Hawks’ first possession. Logan Holbrook added the extra point to make the score, 7-0, capping 15-play, 50-yard drive.
Hardin Valley (1-0) would extend its advantage to 14-0 when Levi Amey found the end zone from two yards out to add the exclamation point to a 37-yard drive.
But that was only part of the story of this rout. The Hawks would have no trouble scoring but they also dominated defensively as the Beavers didn’t pick up their inaugural first down until their fifth possession. They would only earn four in the contest and post just 46 yards of total offense. The Karns rushing attack was particularly anemic as it was held to minus-18 yards on 26 carries.
“Our kids played really well on defense,” Hardin Valley coach Tyler Wynn said. “Blood in the water, is kind of our theme, and these guys were going after it, treating it like sharks.
“We used to be the prey and we want to be the sharks now.”
The Hawks were definitely the sharks on this night.
HVA added two more touchdowns before halftime as Nic Rivers broke a 61-yard scoring scamper and Ayden Perry closed out the first half scoring with a 9-yarder, making the score, 28-0.
After the break quarterback Riley Matz joined in on the scoring parade as he threw two touchdown passes in the third frame, both of which, covered seven yards. The first went to Jeremiah Brown, while Holbrook was on the receiving end of the second one that expanded HVA’s advantage to 42-0.
The Hawks’ fourth-quarter score was a run from Eli Whaley that covered eight yards.
The season continues next week as the Hawks play Morristown East and the Beavers tangle with South-Doyle Friday night.
Despite a second straight win over Karns, Wynn knows that a long journey lies ahead for his squad.
“You take it week by week,” he said, “We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves, so we’ll get on to the next one.
“We’ve got Morristown West in seven days, so it’s time to start preparing for them.”
