Hillsboro, Goshen tied 7-7; game to resume Sept. 5
By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press
With the score tied at 7-7 and 3:34 remaining in the first half, the Hillsboro Indians/Goshen Warriors Friday night football game was delayed due to a lightning strike.
At 9:16 p.m., the game was officially postponed until 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5 at Richards Memorial Field.
The Indians scored their first points of the 2015 season on their first play from scrimmage. And what a play it was.
Quarterback Hunter Chain took the snap from center Curran Butler then flipped to running back Brian Smith, who launched an 81-yard scoring strike to senior Ryan Hagan. Hagan caught the pass in front of the Indians’ bench and raced down the home sideline for the end zone.
Deon Burns converted the point after with Britton Haines holding, and Hillsboro owned a 7-0 lead with 7:51 to play in the first period.
Unofficially, Hagan had three receptions for 110 yards in the first half.
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Goshen quarterback Isaac Hart tied the game at 7-7 with a 46-yard touchdown run in which he broke several would-be tackles.
The Warriors took the opening possession after an 8 p.m. kickoff and picked up two first downs on runs by Nathan Creech and Hart. Hillsboro’s Christian Opst tackled Goshen’s Johnny Kube for a three-yard loss to slow the drive.
Chain and R.J. Swackhamer also made tackles to end Goshen’s first possession.
After the Warriors punted, the Indians turned in their biggest play from scrimmage in the young season.
On the next Hillsboro possession, Hagan had another big reception for a 17-yard gain on a pass from Chain. Chain also picked up 19 yards on a run from scrimmage.
The first period ended with the teams knotted at 7-7.
Hagan had his third reception on the first play of the second quarter – a 12-yard pickup on a pass from Chain. The drive stalled, however, on fourth down. The Indians needed eight yards, but Chain could only manage to gain seven yards before Dakota Eades made the stop for Goshen.
Midway through the second period, Christian Opst made another good defensive play by breaking up a Hart pass intended for Creech. This led to a Goshen punt at the 3:55 mark.
As the Hillsboro offense lined up on first down at their own 42-yard line with 3:34 on the game clock, the officials spotted lightning and immediately suspended play.
The mandatory 30-minute delay ended at 28 minutes, when the game was postponed at 9:16 p.m.
Play will resume where it left off at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5 at Richards Memorial Field.
Score by quarters
(Postponed until Sept. 5)
GHS – 07 00
HHS – 07 00