Hillsboro Indians drop homecoming game to Miami Trace

The Hillsboro Indians had opportunities late in the fourth quarter, but even though the visiting Miami Trace Panthers saw their offense stand out, it was their defense forcing two big turnovers on the final two Hillsboro possessions that allowed MT to gain their fourth victory of the season.

Miami Trace recovered a fumble by the Indians late in the fourth quarter with 2:45 remaining on the clock. Then, after being forced to punt, the Panthers saw Caden Sweitzer intercept a pass at the MT 23-yard line with 2.7 on the clock, sealing the win by a 35-27 score.

Though the win improved the Panthers to 4-2 overall on the season, it also snapped a four-game losing streak to the Indians, plus the win was the second consecutive victory for the Panthers, an accomplishment they hadn’t had in the three-year tenure of head coach Jerry Williams.

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Miami Trace also improved to 1-0 in the Frontier Athletic Conference with the win, while the loss for the Indians drops them to 3-3 overall and 0-1 in the FAC.

“We ran the ball well, but we had to persevere at the end,” Williams told The Highland County Press. “Our defense had to hang in there, and I’ve always said — even when we have the ball — the best defense is an offense.

“(Hillsboro’s) offense was tough to stop. They are good at what they do, and we had to hold them at the end, which was a struggle. Thank goodness our offensive line came to play. They did a fantastic job. We ran the ball very well and controlled the clock at the end, but it was difficult.”

Miami Trace’s offensive line consists of three seniors in Aidan Kingery (center), Aaron Morris (left guard) and Caden Bridges (right guard), plus sophomore Dylan Alltop (left tackle) and junior Luke Anders (right tackle).

As for the Indians, head coach Jack O’Rourke kept things short and to the point following the game.

“We have to pick up the pieces and try to make it happen next week,” O’Rourke said. “That’s all I can say. Our guys won’t give up, and now we have to get ready for next week.”

Though the game was an eight-point differential once the clock ended for the Indians in their homecoming game, the Indians didn’t get off to the best of starts. On the flip side of the equation, the opposite could be said for Miami Trace.

MTHS opened the game with a kickoff return for a touchdown with an 80-plus yard return for six points by sophomore Jayden Lebeau. The PAT was made by Justin Shoemaker to put the Panthers ahead 7-0 before either offense or defense took the field.

“Without a doubt, there is no question one of the best athletes on this field is Jayden Lebeau. I’m glad I have him back for a couple more years,” Williams said.

The Indians had to recover an onside kick, as Bryce Parsons fell on the football to give the Indians possession. The Indians (0-1, 3-3) opened their game with an 8-yard reception by Silas Simmons off a pass from Justin Spears.

Then came the Mark Gallimore Show as the next five plays were all runs by Gallimore, totaling 30 yards. Following an incomplete pass, a run for no gain and a false start by the Indians, Gallimore took his team to the end zone. He did so on a third-and-15 play where he raced around the defense for a 29-yard score with 7:21 left in the first quarter. The PAT was no good, leaving the Panthers ahead by a 7-6 score.

Miami Trace retuned to the end zone with 3:21 left in the first quarter, building their lead to 14-6 following a 40-yard touchdown pass from Dalton Mayer to Joshua Gilmore and a PAT conversion by Shoemaker.

Still in the first half, the Panthers continued to add to their lead, this time with another big-yardage play from Lebeau, with the running back racing 73 yards untouched to the end zone with 11:33 left in the second quarter. Again, the PAT was made by Shoemaker for a 21-6 lead.

Miami Trace’s defense stepped up again, this time with a fumble recovery by Luke Henry with 8:02 on the second-quarter clock, as the Indians had the ball on the MTHS 49-yard line and a first down to their credit. Hillsboro’s defense forced a punt, and Spears had a return of 40-plus yards, taking the ball to Miami Trace’s 31-yard line.

Two plays later, the Indians were in the end zone for the second time in the game. On first down from the 31-yard line a pass from Spears to Simmons went for a 16-yard gain, but in the process Simmons was injured. The next play saw Spears rush for a 15-yard touchdown with 6:58 left in the quarter. Spears ran in different directions, avoiding heavy pressure by the MTHS defense. HHS added two more points with a 2-point conversion run by Spears for a 21-14 deficit.

Miami Trace wasn’t finished scoring in the first half. Following a short punt by the Indians that saw the ball land on the Indians’ 35-yard line, the Panthers took advantage to the field position and added one final score before the end of the half.

On first down, Mayer found Javin Robinette for a 26-yard completion, and later on third-and-goal from the 9-yard line the Panthers had an eight-yard gain off a pass from Mayer to Cooper Smith. On fourth-and-goal, the Panthers scored the aforementioned touchdown with Lebeau stretching out for the 1-yard rush and six points with 1:49 left in the second quarter. The PAT was good, and the 28-14 lead stayed up to halftime.

Hillsboro didn’t back down in the second half, opening the third quarter from their own 20-yard line following a touchback. The Indians chipped away at the Panthers with gains by Gallimore, Travis Ross and Spears, resulting in a first-and-10 from the Miami Trace 38-yard line. A run by Gallimore for 12 yards made it first down from the MT 26-yard line. The very next play, Spears was in the end zone off a 26-yard run with 6:30 left in the third. The PAT kick by Haydon Hice made it a 28-21 score.

After the third frame wrapped up, the fourth quarter included one final touchdown by the Panthers, with the TD coming with 7:32 remaining in the game off a 2-yard rush by Lebeau. Following the PAT the Panthers held a 32-21 lead. That scoring drive consisted of nine plays, including a 23-yard run by Lebeau on second down.

Hillsboro answered with a touchdown down of their own as they had a 77-yard drive that included a 41-yard reception by Keith Doughman on fourth-and-18 with the Indians going from their own 34-yard line to the MT 25-yard line. Four plays later came the 5-yard touchdown run by Sears with 4:00 left in regulation. The PAT was blocked by Gilmore of MT for a 35-27 score.

Hillsboro came back by recovering an onside kick with Brock Haines falling on the ball at the MTHS 49-yard line. The Indians were gaining positive yardage off runs by Spears, but on the second run he was left injured. On the next play, the Indians fumbled the snap from the 43-yard line, and the Panthers defense came up with a big turnover on the fumble recovery.

The Panthers ended up punting the ball, and the Indians had possession with 35.7 seconds left in the game from their own 28-yard line. The first play resulted in a pass to Doughman for a 20-yard gain. After spiking the ball, Spears — who returned to action — rushed for a 21 yards to the MTHS 27-yard line. The next play was an interception by Miami Trace’s Sweitzer with 2.7 on the clock, sealing the win for MTHS.

“This is a big win, and when you are coming from the past two years where we were 1-9, 2-8, and this being the first time we’ve won two games in a row since I’ve been here, to win the first conference game was huge for us,” Williams said. “These guys fought hard, and our mantra has been “To Climb,” and for these guys it is starting to pay off.

“This is a big step, and the offseason work that these guys have put in, it is part of that climb, and these seniors deserve this.”

Next for the Indians is a Week 7 game at Chillicothe (0-1, 1-5). The Panthers will face the McClain Tigers (0-1, 2-4) next Friday at McClain Field in Greenfield for their Week 7 game.

During the pregame homecoming ceremonies, the homecoming queen and king were crowned in Assia Patrick and Caleb Crawford, respectively.