Comet Offense Flew in a Blur; Stunning Pirates in Week 4 Blowout

JJ Russ (3) shakes off a Napoleon defender. Photos by Hannah Tacy, JTV Sports

Trey Richmond | JTV Sports

Friday, September 18th

(9-18-2026): Hanover-Horton went down 8-0, then outscored Napoleon 45-6 the rest of the way to take the lead in the Cascades-South division with a Week 4 win.

Napoleon received the ball to open the game and went on a 13 play, 67-yard drive, capped off by a Zavior Skog one-yard rushing touchdown to go up eight. Their initial drive took up 8:43. The Pirates took the ball back quickly, forcing Austyn Hocter to fumble while trying to extend for the first down on a third and one. However, Hocter and the Comets immediately got the ball back. The Comet defense took down Isaac Caroffino with a strip sack on the next snap; recovered by Hocter at Napoleon’s 15-yard line as the final play of the first quarter.

It only took two plays for the Comets to get into the end zone, a 13-yard run and a two-yard touchdown from Kolin Griffiths to level the game at eight apiece.

Following a turnover on downs by Napoleon, Hanover-Horton took over at the pirate 47 with 1:40 remaining in the half. The Comets drive was ignited by an 11-yard run from Hocter and a 24-yard sweep from J.J. Russ that led to a four-yard jaunt into the end zone for Hocter. The Comets took a 16-8 lead going into the half.

The Comet offense was on fire to start the second half. On the first play from scrimmage, Hocter snapped off a 61-yard rushing touchdown starting behind his left tackle. The Hanover-Horton defense forcing a three-and-out allowed their offense to cook again, this time more methodical. Starting at the Pirates 48, the Comets led a 10 play, 52-yard touchdown drive finished by a Devin Bevier QB sneak. The Comet lead was extended to 32-8 at the end of the third quarter.

A quick Pirate turnover on downs gave the Comets the ball up 24, and once again, Hocter took the first play of the drive to the house. Hocter was wrapped up on multiple occasions for a six-yard loss but slipped the would-be tacklers for a 39-yard rushing touchdown along the left sideline. The Comets led 39-8 with 11 minutes left in the game.

With the Pirates down 31, Skog gave the Comets a taste of their own medicine, taking a handful on the first play of the drive and found himself alone in the end zone after a 69-yard touchdown run with the deficit down to 25. That gap was short-lived however, Blake Cogan (offensive guard) took the mishit Pirate onside-kick and scored, untouched, to get the lead back to 31.

The Hanover-Horton Comets hand the Napoleon Pirates their first loss of the season with a final score of 45-14. Both teams left the field 3-1.

While Napoleon was dominated on the scoreboard, they outgained Hanover-Horton 252 to 229 yards. Short fields and big plays for the Comets, and seven of nine drives that resulted in no points for the Pirates made the difference in score.

Hanover-Horton’s Austyn Hocter rushed for 150 yards on 12 attempts with three touchdowns, averaging 12.5 yards a carry.

Pirate’s Zavior Skog rushed for 161 yards on 24 attempts with two touchdowns, averaging 6.7 yards a carry.

Napoleon will be heading to Bellinger Field to take on Addison, while Hanover-Horton will be at home taking on the 4-0 Columbia Central Golden Eagles.

*all stats unofficial*