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COURTLAND

The Southampton High School Indians were defeated 61-8 when they went to play against the Hopewell Blue Devils during a playoff game last Friday night.

Indians’ coach Travis Parker said, “When all is said and done, they [the Blue Devils] were bigger, stronger and had a lot more players.”

In the 3A Division to which both Southampton and Hopewell belong, the Indians were No. 8; the Blue Devils at 1.

Parker said Hopewell had opportunities to play against 4A and 5A teams this past season, which meant their opponents were even bigger, stronger and more plentiful. That adversity, added the coach, honed the Blue Devils’ own abilities and made them more formidable against the Indians.

“Our boys still competed,” Parker said of his team, noting the record is 6-5 for the season. “I’m proud of those six wins. They got us into the playoffs.”

But the coach is not satisfied, and aims to take next year’s team even higher.

“This will be a baseline season. Next year we must win seven or more games to get into the playoffs, and get to the second round of playoffs.”