Two Delaware County high schools sit on State Road 28, with those being Delta High School and Wes-Del Middle/Senior High School.
On Friday evening, both institutions separated by minutes had students and community members sitting in the same place at the same time: the bleachers. They surrounded both football fields to cheer on their respective teams and root for a win in the first round of sectionals.
While the Delta Eagles and Wes-Del Warriors had different results after four quarters of play, players and coaches of each team had the same thing to say about playing in that environment under the Friday night lights.
“Playing under these lights is truly one of the greatest things a young American child can ever go through,” Wes-Del senior Dallas Godby said. “Playing under Friday night lights is a wonderful and amazing experience.”
Tri 55 - Wes-Del 0
When Warriors' head coach Matt Nuckols approached the huddle after their Sectional No. 44 contest, he didn’t want his team to think about the 55-0 loss they just endured. He wanted them to remember that ‘one game doesn’t represent a season.’
“This was proof we are heading in the right direction,” Nuckols said. “It’s all about what these seniors have been able to do for us… They just bought into everything and led even as underclassmen."
The contest started with the Tri High Titans scoring a rushing touchdown on the opening possession of the game. They did that seven more times en route to the win. While their offense was able to move the ball and take advantage of opportunities, the Warriors could not match the intensity.
“[Tri] was pretty good up front and they had a really good gameplan,” Nuckols said. “I think we had some good stuff, but a couple things didn’t go our way against a really good team.”
After the game, multiple coaches joined Nuckols in giving their praise and thanks. However, to end the speaking was Godby. He talked to his fellow Warriors, telling them how proud he was to be a part of the first Wes-Del roster to have a .500 record since 2016.
“You wouldn’t have expected to get a turf field [one year ago],” Godby said. “Going 4-6 last season and now we are 5-5. I love this program and the things we've been able to do.”
After his time, the Warriors broke down the huddle and seniors emotionally hugged each other. With six total seniors walking away, every upperclassman received hugs and words of encouragement from the entire team.
“I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else,” senior Grayson Mealy said. “From where we came from in three years, the progress we’ve made and the relationships we’ve built, I wouldn’t want to do it anywhere else.”
Though multiple players will leave the program, returners like junior Brock Nauman and sophomore Eli Wright will return next season. To Nuckols, the future is bright for Wes-Del football as he thinks this year’s team proved that.
“They’ve seen what that [successful] speed is like and our junior class is full of leaders too,” Nuckols said. “
Heritage 14 - Delta 54
The Delta Eagles finished the regular season with two straight losses. In what will be Delta head coach Chris Overholt’s last season, his team wanted to give him the best sendoff they could.
After defeating Heritage 54-14 in what was likely Overholt’s last home game, they seemed to find the energy they were missing the last two weeks to do just that. Add in that this was likely the last home game for Delta assistant coach Dave Edwards as well, it was a game for everyone to cherish
“It’s just awesome to win for him and coach Overholt and the seniors,” Dave’s son and sophomore quarterback Bronson Edwards said. “It’s just surreal.”
While he was happy with the 40-point victory, Overholt still found ways for his team to improve. One of those is in the penalty category as the blue and gold had 12 total flags.
“We got to clean up some penalties,” he said. “I thought we played aggressive and a lot of those were aggressive penalties.”
Delta will move on to face Mississenawa on the road Friday, Nov 1. The game will be played at 7 p.m. Though Overholt has at least one more game left, it still shocks Delaware County residents that the nine-year Eagles head coach will walk away at the end of the season. That includes other area coaches.
“It’s a hit to Indiana high school football,” Nuckols said after Wes-Del’s game. “He’s one of the best around here.”
It’s something that Overholt loves about this area of the state.
“Coach Nuckols is a first-class guy,” Overholt said. “He’s a great human and that’s the reason Delaware County football has gotten to be what it is. But I’m still going to be around as I’m not dying.”
But while he maybe doesn’t want to see the moment come yet, he understands that nights like tonight are not ones you can take for granted.
“There’s nothing like being at Delta and playing football here in the fall,” he said. “The trees have changed colors, the farmers have the fields cleared and this is just home for us.”
In the other two Delaware County games, Yorktown defeated Richmond 46-6 and Muncie Central fell to Logansport 35-13.
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary.carter@bsu.edu or via X @ZachCarter85.
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