Hardin Valley Academy’s football team got the 2026 season off to a blazing fast start Friday night, and senior quarterback Riley Matz and senior receiver Nick Rivers played big roles in it.
Matz completed his first five passes and Rivers made two big plays early in the game, sparking the Hawks to a 49-0 victory over host Karns in the season opener for both teams.
It’s a rivalry game between next-door neighboring schools.
And the Hawks’ victory made for a joyous bus ride back to HVA.
“They’ve known these (Karns) kids,” HVA coach Tyler Wynn said. “They’ve been around them for forever, played against them multiple times. So anytime you can knock them off, that’s a big win, and these kids are going to go crazy and they’re going to enjoy it.”
Matz and Rivers were two of the HVA seniors who have been with the program since Wynn was hired in January of 2024.
Matz, in his second season as the fulltime starter, completed 13 of 18 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns, both coming in the third quarter.
“Riley has done a great job,” Wynn said.
Matz’s on-target passing early in the game got the offense going.
HVA (1-0) stopped the opening drive by Karns (0-1), forcing a punt.
The Hawks started at the 50-yard line and needed 15 plays to score.
Senior Beau Wise scored on a 3-yard touchdown, and senior Logan Holbrook kicked the first of seven straight PAT kicks for a 7-0 lead.
During the opening drive, Matz was 4-of-4 passing for 21 yards and ran for 6 yards on two carries.
“(Matz) had a great year last year and he’s led this team really well in the offseason,” Wynn said. “I’m just happy to see his leadership transfer to the field.”
HVA’s defense stopped Karns on three rushing plays, forcing a second punt.
The Hawks’ second drive started at the Karns’ 37-yard line.
On first down, Matz threw a 35-yard pass to Rivers, who made a leaping catch at the Karns’ 2-yard line.
“I started the route, just found space and I saw the ball, went and got the ball,” Rivers said. “I caught the ball up high and tried to be aggressive.”
Junior running back Levi Amey scored on a 2-yard run for a 14-0 lead.
Karns didn’t gain a first down until its fifth possession, and Ryan Irwin’s third punt went out of bounds at HVA’s 39-yard line.
On first down, Rivers took a pitch from Matz and raced down the right side of the field for a 61-yard touchdown.
Rivers, one of the state’s top five sprinters in the 100-meter dash, put his speed on display during the touchdown run.
“I got the ball,” said Rivers, who also starts at cornerback. “Once I saw space, I just ran for it. I just turned on the speed. I know I’ve got elite speed. I made them catch me.”
And they didn’t. The Hawks led 21-0 early in the second quarter.
“To see that track speed on the field tonight was a big thing for (Rivers),” Wynn said. “He’s a talented kid, playing on both sides of the ball and special teams. He’s one of those seniors who really bought in when we first got here, and he’s just now starting to come into his own and be an elite player on both sides of the football.”
The Hawks started their fourth drive at the Karns’ 45-yard line and needed nine plays to score.
Sophomore running back Ayden Perry scored on a 9-yard run with 6:38 left in the half. It was 28-0.
Karns gained two first downs during the fifth drive of the game, but Irwin got stopped short of a first down on a fake-punt attempt.
The Karns defense held, and Holbrook missed a 45-yard field goal attempt, which was short.
It was 28-0 at halftime.
“Our kids played really well on defense,” Wynn said. “‘Blood in the water,’ is kind of our theme, and these kids were going after it, treating it like sharks. We used to be the prey, and we want to be the sharks now.”
Karns forced the first punt by HVA early in the second half, then its offense went three and out again.
The Hawks started at the Karns’ 43 and scored four plays later.
Jeremiah Brown caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Matz for a 35-0 lead and the running clock rolling midway through the third quarter.
Matz threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Holbrook with 2:14 left in the third quarter.
“(Matz) puts it on the money,” Rivers said. “We’ve got trust in each other. He’s got trust in all our receivers. It’s a team effort, for sure.”
HVA’s last TD was an 8-yard run by Eli Whaley.
Karns finished with four first downs and 46 total yards, including minus-18 rushing yards caused by several sacks of quarterback Ben Styles.
HVA had 14 first downs and 314 total yards.
“Hyped for tonight, celebrate, but after tonight, on to the next game,” Rivers said. “Remembering what our standard is, playing to our standard, playing to perfection, trusting what Coach Wynn has taught us, and what he has planned for us.”
Karns plays at South-Doyle next Friday, while HVA plays at Morristown East.
“You take it week by week,” Wynn said. “We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves, so we’ll get on the next one. We’ve got Morristown East in seven days, so it’s time to start preparing for them.”
Article written by Dave Link/5Star Preps. To read more on area high school sports or to see photo galleries, videos, stat leaders, etc., visit 5StarPreps.com — and use promo code HAMMERS for 30% off your first year or month subscription.
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