The Harmon Hawks have had quite the year. One season after having its schedule canceled due to COVID-19, the Hawks have only played three games in six weeks so far in 2021.
COVID-19 concerns and quarantine sidelined Harmon until Sept. 17. The Hawks' first two games of the season were canceled.
To make matter worse, head coach Pat Hansen resigned after one game. It was not known what prompted Hansen to step down after the 52-0 loss to Turner. Assistant coach Alvis Coy replaced Hansen on an interim basis but the on-field results have shown little improvement. The Hawks have been outscored 189-0 in three games.
A message sent to Harmon football families revealed little about the nature of the shakeup.
“We want to inform you that Patrick Hansen has resigned from the position of Head Football Coach at Harmon High School,” a message dated Sept. 23 read. “Assistant Coach Alvis Coy will serve as the Interim Head Football Coach through the remainder of this season. Assistant Football Coaches James Cooper, Steven Vincent, and Craig Brown will remain as part of the coaching staff.”
Hansen had little to say about the change.
“Thanks for reaching out,” Hansen wrote in a text message to PrepsKC. “I am no longer the HC at Harmon High School. I coached one game against Turner HS. The kids here are great and want to be successful.”
On Friday, the Hawks will host Sumner Academy in the DiPasquale-Moore Law Metro Matchup of the Week. The Sabres are 3-3 on the season and sport a 2-2 record in the Kansas City Atchison League. Harmon is 0-2 in the KCAL.
Sumner started the season 0-2 before running off three consecutive wins. The Sabres downed Kansas City East, Wyandotte and Schlagle by a combined score of 111-8. Last week, Sumner was beaten 35-14 by league-leading Atchison, 5-1 and 3-0 in the KCAL.
Sumner and Atchison are the is only two league teams with a .500 record or better. Effort has been the Sabres' calling card this season.
“We have a lot of hard-working kids,” Sumner head coach Andrew Wright said. “Our effort level has been unbelievable, and we are learning how important the small details are.”
Wright has seen the evolution of the Sabres success bear fruit from Week 1 to now.
“I think I mentioned to you earlier in the year I thought we would play our best football later in the year and that occurred at the end of September,” he said. “Even though we lost last weekend to Atchison, I felt like it was a close game, and our kids didn't give up. Really proud of the effort and the leadership of our senior class.”
To climb above the .500 mark, Sumner will need to avoid a let-down against a winless team in Harmon.
“Our message this week is to eliminate mistakes and try to just play a full 48 minutes against Harmon,” Wright said. “The game is slowing down for some younger kids and so I want them to just go out and not think so much but just have fun and let their personalities show. Looking forward to playing a Harmon team that is improving. They have some athletes on film that we will for sure have to be ready for.”
