Football returned in grand style last Friday night at Art Sanders Field. The air was rife with the smell of charcoal and ribeyes, the sounds of the pep band and student section getting loud, and ended with the 2026 Senators claiming victory over county rival East Washington Musketeers, 55-6.
“Our goal was to go 1-0,” said Senator Head Coach Jeremy Lowery. “We were able to do that, and I was glad to see the hard work our players have put paying off. We always take time to enjoy the win, and then get back to work on Monday.”
After the Senator defense forced a turnover on downs on the opening drive, the Senator offense would waste little time in getting on the board, punctuating a 4 play drive with a 2 yard plunge by junior running back Charlie Armstrong.
Junior Kicker Ira Suvak would then hit the first of seven successful PAT kicks on the evening, tying a school record.
“Ira kicked a great game tonight,” said Lowery. “Having reliability in the kicking game is a huge advantage.”
The ensuing Eastern drive would end when sophomore linebacker Owen Woods would come with a big tackle for loss on 3rd down. Sophomore returner Nash Washburn would collect the Eastern punt and return it 55 yards to set up the Senators inside the 20, where junior quarterback Jent Tankersley would end up tossing the first of his four touchdown passes on the evening, finding senior wide receiver Colton Brown in the back corner of the endzone.
Eastern would answer on their next drive with a long touchdown pass, before the Senators would answer back with another short touchdown run by Armstrong.
The Senator defense would stop the next Eastern drive on downs at mid-field as sophomore linebacker Hayden Bowers would knife through on 4th and 1 to tackle the runner for no gain. The Senator offensive line would pave the way for senior running back Izaiah Dennis on the drive, as he ran untouched off tackle 35 yards to the endzone, extending the Senator lead to 28-6.
Bowers would come through again on the next Eastern drive, intercepting Eastern’s pass at mid-field. Tankersley would cap off the drive with a 30 yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Holden Russell.
Another forced punt, and Tankersley would find Brown a second time for a 20 yard touchdown pass. Tankersley would cap his evening by finding senior wide receiver Neven Marrs in the back of the endzone on a 9 yard toss.
The Senators would punch another one in after halftime, with Washburn finding paydirt from 10 yards out.
The Senators are in action next Friday at Tell City.