Hillsboro Indians barrel way to win over CNE Rockets
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
OWENSVILLE — The third game was the charm for the 2015 Hillsboro Indians, with the squad using their power rushing attack, with a few passes mixed into their game plan, for a 40-6 non-league win against the Clermont Northeastern Rockets, Friday night at CNE.
The Indians' offensive line was key in getting the running lanes for senior running back Heith Brown and time in the pocket for quarterback Hunter Chain, as the Indians controlled the game and did what was needed to gain that coveted first win of the season.
Members of the Indians' offensive line from Friday include Laith Maxwell, JJ Goldick, Connor Lowe, Gary Vincent, Curran Butler and tight end Christian Opst.
"I really challenged my offensive line this week," head coach Matt Hodge said. "I got after those guys pretty good. Me being their position coach, they don't get a lot of breaks from me, and I'm really proud of the way they played.
"The difference in this game was our offensive line. They came out and they moved people, and our backs ran hard, give them a lot of credit too, but I'm really proud of my o-line tonight."
The Indians gained possession of the football first, and they didn't wait long before putting points on the scoreboard. In fact, it took the Tribe just three plays to go 54 yards to the end zone as their offense lifted off past the Rockets defense with a 4-yard rush by Brown, followed with a 45-yard scamper by the senior tailback.
On first-and-goal, Brown completed the mission with a 5-yard dash to the end zone for a 6-0 Indians lead with 10:46 left in the first quarter.
"Heith puts a lot of time in the weight room," Hodge said. "He works at it, he ran the ball hard tonight and did some good things for us."
From there, the host Rockets defended their home field with a touchdown drive of their own, as theirs went for 50 yards, ending with an 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Shawn Lykins to Trevor Braun with 5:58 remaining in the opening quarter for the 6-6 score.
From there, the Indians went on a tear with their offense, adding another 34 points to the scoreboard, while their defense shut out the opposition for the remainder of the game.
The Indians' next drive saw them take the ball 65 yards to pay dirt, never relinquishing the lead to the Rockets. The Indians began the drive with three consecutive carries by Brown, followed by a fourth-and-2 run from Chain for five yards and a first down.
[[In-content Ad]]On a second-and-15 play, Brown pounded the football for four yards, and the ensuing play, the Indians went to the air with Chain finding Ryan Hagen for 16 yards and a first down.
Two plays later, on second-and-8. Hagen leaped in the air with a defender on him, catching the football and taking the ball on a trip to the end zone for six points with a 35-yard score. The PAT was good by Deon Burns for a 13-6 advantage with 1:10 left in the first quarter.
The Indians took a 20-6 lead following a three-play drive that ended with a 23-yard touchdown run by Brown, who took the football from the handoff and powered his way through the Rockets' line as the line of the Indians pushed him through to a path to the promised land and six points. The touchdown with 9:05 left in the second gave Brown two first-half scores.
On their first possession of the second half, the Indians continued to use their offensive power running game to add to their lead, this time building a 62-yard drive with runs from Brown and Lane Hester to get the Indians to a first-and-goal situation. One play in that series of events saw Hester blast the Rockets defender for an 11-yard gain to set up the first-and-goal.
The second-and-goal play saw Hester score an Indians touchdown with 5:51 left in the third, giving the Indians a 20-point lead at 26-6.
CNE had an opportunity to score points in the second half, but on a third-and -11 from the Indians' 16-yard line Hillsboro's defense took their turn in the spotlight when Andrew Palmer intercepted a CNE pass with 38.7 seconds left in the third, returning the ball for 57 yards.
That interception by Palmer set up a 37-yard scoring drive by HHS that ended with Chain carrying the ball five yards for the Indians' fifth touchdown of the game at the 8:11 mark of the fourth quarter and a 33-6 score.
Hillsboro's final score came with 5:08 left in regulation as Burns went 11 yards through the middle of the CNE defense for the touchdown. That score was set up with positive runs by Josh Keets. Following the TD run by Burns, he kicked the extra point.
Next week, the Indians will host their homecoming game, as the Washington Blue Lions will visit Richards Memorial Field. Washington won their first game of the season Friday as well, defeating Gallia Academy, 34-13 at Gardner Park.
"It's homecoming against Washington Court House," Hodge said. "They are going to be a hard-nosed football team. Coach Dye always has his kids ready to play, and it should be a great ball game."
NOTES: Jed Asmus made a tackle for loss in the first quarter ... CNE's Trevor Braun intercepted a pass with 11:52 left in the first quarter … Braun also had a reception for 58 yards in the second quarter on a third-and-18 play … Hester and R.J. Swackhamer combined for a tackle for loss … Last season, the Indians defeated the CNE Rockets, 39-0.
The Indians' offensive line was key in getting the running lanes for senior running back Heith Brown and time in the pocket for quarterback Hunter Chain, as the Indians controlled the game and did what was needed to gain that coveted first win of the season.
Members of the Indians' offensive line from Friday include Laith Maxwell, JJ Goldick, Connor Lowe, Gary Vincent, Curran Butler and tight end Christian Opst.
"I really challenged my offensive line this week," head coach Matt Hodge said. "I got after those guys pretty good. Me being their position coach, they don't get a lot of breaks from me, and I'm really proud of the way they played.
"The difference in this game was our offensive line. They came out and they moved people, and our backs ran hard, give them a lot of credit too, but I'm really proud of my o-line tonight."
The Indians gained possession of the football first, and they didn't wait long before putting points on the scoreboard. In fact, it took the Tribe just three plays to go 54 yards to the end zone as their offense lifted off past the Rockets defense with a 4-yard rush by Brown, followed with a 45-yard scamper by the senior tailback.
On first-and-goal, Brown completed the mission with a 5-yard dash to the end zone for a 6-0 Indians lead with 10:46 left in the first quarter.
"Heith puts a lot of time in the weight room," Hodge said. "He works at it, he ran the ball hard tonight and did some good things for us."
From there, the host Rockets defended their home field with a touchdown drive of their own, as theirs went for 50 yards, ending with an 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Shawn Lykins to Trevor Braun with 5:58 remaining in the opening quarter for the 6-6 score.
From there, the Indians went on a tear with their offense, adding another 34 points to the scoreboard, while their defense shut out the opposition for the remainder of the game.
The Indians' next drive saw them take the ball 65 yards to pay dirt, never relinquishing the lead to the Rockets. The Indians began the drive with three consecutive carries by Brown, followed by a fourth-and-2 run from Chain for five yards and a first down.
[[In-content Ad]]On a second-and-15 play, Brown pounded the football for four yards, and the ensuing play, the Indians went to the air with Chain finding Ryan Hagen for 16 yards and a first down.
Two plays later, on second-and-8. Hagen leaped in the air with a defender on him, catching the football and taking the ball on a trip to the end zone for six points with a 35-yard score. The PAT was good by Deon Burns for a 13-6 advantage with 1:10 left in the first quarter.
The Indians took a 20-6 lead following a three-play drive that ended with a 23-yard touchdown run by Brown, who took the football from the handoff and powered his way through the Rockets' line as the line of the Indians pushed him through to a path to the promised land and six points. The touchdown with 9:05 left in the second gave Brown two first-half scores.
On their first possession of the second half, the Indians continued to use their offensive power running game to add to their lead, this time building a 62-yard drive with runs from Brown and Lane Hester to get the Indians to a first-and-goal situation. One play in that series of events saw Hester blast the Rockets defender for an 11-yard gain to set up the first-and-goal.
The second-and-goal play saw Hester score an Indians touchdown with 5:51 left in the third, giving the Indians a 20-point lead at 26-6.
CNE had an opportunity to score points in the second half, but on a third-and -11 from the Indians' 16-yard line Hillsboro's defense took their turn in the spotlight when Andrew Palmer intercepted a CNE pass with 38.7 seconds left in the third, returning the ball for 57 yards.
That interception by Palmer set up a 37-yard scoring drive by HHS that ended with Chain carrying the ball five yards for the Indians' fifth touchdown of the game at the 8:11 mark of the fourth quarter and a 33-6 score.
Hillsboro's final score came with 5:08 left in regulation as Burns went 11 yards through the middle of the CNE defense for the touchdown. That score was set up with positive runs by Josh Keets. Following the TD run by Burns, he kicked the extra point.
Next week, the Indians will host their homecoming game, as the Washington Blue Lions will visit Richards Memorial Field. Washington won their first game of the season Friday as well, defeating Gallia Academy, 34-13 at Gardner Park.
"It's homecoming against Washington Court House," Hodge said. "They are going to be a hard-nosed football team. Coach Dye always has his kids ready to play, and it should be a great ball game."
NOTES: Jed Asmus made a tackle for loss in the first quarter ... CNE's Trevor Braun intercepted a pass with 11:52 left in the first quarter … Braun also had a reception for 58 yards in the second quarter on a third-and-18 play … Hester and R.J. Swackhamer combined for a tackle for loss … Last season, the Indians defeated the CNE Rockets, 39-0.