Hough High opens season with win against SC power

MATT LACZKO

Ethan Royal, who quarterbacked Hough High to the North Carolina 8A title in 2025, tossed a pair of touchdowns  in the Huskies' 15-10 win against Rock Hill Northwestern Aug. 22, 2026 in Rock Hill, S.C.

ROCK HILL – The best defense is a good offense.

The Hough Huskies No. 1 in The Post’s Magnificent Seven rankings, certainly played to it in their season-opening 15-10 win against Rock Hill Northwestern. After the Trojans struck first midway through the first quarter on a long touchdown run by quarterback Xavier Means, the Huskies didn’t allow another touchdown. Hough’s defense compiled 12 sacks to put everyone on notice about just how good the Huskies defense could be.

“We came into this game knowing [Northwestern’s] quarterback was a bad man,” Hough linebacker Ryan Peterson said. “He had a couple good run plays but at the end of the day that is football. But I love my teammates and I know they love me, so it doesn’t matter if the offense is struggling or if the defense is struggling, we are going to play for each other and play through adversity.” 

Northwestern averaged more than 40 points per game in 2025 and for Hough to hold them to 10 speaks to how elite this defense can become.

“This defense can be amazing,” Peterson said. “This defense is amazing. We have great potential. Our front four are crazy good and then you have me and [Charles] Puckett back there at linebacker. Then all of our [defensive backs] as well; Josh [Dobson] a five-star, Jonah Holloway, Sincere Day, everybody. We can be really special.”

Dobson — who transferred to Hough from Catawba Ridge — has familiarity with Northwestern.

“I have played against [Northwestern] for three years now, so I am kind of used to [Page Wofford’s] offense. He has kept the same offense for a lot of years, and it has worked. They usually score more than 40 points a game, but we have a crazy defense. I think we have the best defense in the country. Nothing is going to take that away from us. Being able to hold them to 10 points and knowing what they do to other teams; they are probably not going to be held to 10 points the rest of the season.”

Hough coach DeShawn Baker credited the coaching staff and preparation for the defense’s effort.

“I think what you saw is just a testament to how we practice,” he said. “Shout out to all of our coaches, coach Chachi [Sullivan] coach [Jamelle] Byrd and our whole defensive staff for putting together a good gameplan. They played lights out.” 

The offense did just enough to get the win and Huskies quarterback Ethan Royal, who tossed two touchdown passes, including the go-ahead score with 15 seconds left in the third quarter, credited the defense for stepping up.

“We feed off the defense’s energy,” he said. “Anytime they make a big play we are ready to come back out and make another big play on offense, so it feels really good to know we have a backbone to lean on whenever we are struggling.” 

Royal tossed two touchdown passes, including the go-ahead score with 15 seconds left in the third quarter. 

When asked if Hough has the potential to be one of the best teams in state history, Royal didn’t mince words.

“No doubt about it,” he said. “We will be really good once we put everything together.”

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