Indians lose against Jackson

The Frontier Athletic Conference standings got a little bit more organized in Week 8 as the Hillsboro Indians were unable to gain the tempo and set the pace of the game against conference counterpart Jackson Friday night, resulting in a 28-6 loss at Richards Memorial Field.

Hillsboro out-gained the Ironmen in the first half at 179-119 yards unofficially, but miscues and mishaps in the first half resulted in the Indians trailing 21-6 at halftime of the Frontier Athletic Conference showdown and losing by a 28-6 score.

In the second half, the Indians didn’t have Deon Burns to carry the football like they did in the first half, but even without the offense getting into a rhythm, the defense held the visitors to six points in the final two quarters, even coming up with a big-time goal line stand on the final drive by Jackson.

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The loss drops the Indians to 5-3 overall and 1-2 in the FAC, while the Ironmen improved to 7-1 overall and 3-0 in the conference.

“They (Jackson) were a very physical team, and they beat us at our own game tonight,” HHS head coach Jack O’Rourke said. “We didn’t move the ball very well offensively tonight, so we were putting our defense in bad situations.

“I’m pleased with Keets’ effort out there tonight and Deon’s, when he was healthy. Devon Gallimore plays hard. We were trying to get Josh the ball a little bit more and putting him at the I-back and switching Gallimore out as wide receiver (when Deon was out).”

Jackson was first to score in the game, with the seven points coming on the first drive of the game as they initially recovered an onside kick attempt by the Indians to start the game, giving the Ironmen the ball on their own 45-yard line.

From there, JHS scored their first of four touchdowns by driving downfield to set up a first-and-goal play on the 1-yard line with 7:42 left on the first-quarter scoreboard. The PAT made it a 7-0 lead for the away team.

The Indians’ first drive of the game didn’t go as smoothly as Jackson’s first drive with HHS being held to 12 yards on five plays, but they gained a first down following runs of five yards by Josh Keets and six yards from Burns.

After the Ironmen regained the ball, the Indians’ defense went on a three-and-out, but Jackson forced the Indians into a turnover on downs with 10:25 left in the second frame.

Jackson took advantage of gaining the ball on their own 42-yard line for the second time in the game, this time taking seven plays to reach pay dirt, scoring the touchdown on a second-and-goal run from the 2-yard line by Blake McCoy with 7:26 left in the second quarter. The PAT was good once again for a 14-0 lead over Hillsboro.

Hillsboro’s lone touchdown came with 4:47 left in the second quarter as Keets rushed the ball eight yards on a second-and-5 play, going around the defense and into the corner of the end zone with the eight-yard run. HHS missed the PAT, resulting in a 14-6 deficit.

Jackson took advantage of a late second-quarter fumble by the Indians, with Matt Humphreys scooping up the loose ball and racing 40 yards untouched to the end zone with 19.1 seconds on the second-quarter clock. Again, the Ironmen converted the PAT for a 21-6 halftime lead.

Neither team scored in the third quarter, and the Ironmen added one final score with 9:56 left in regulation when McCoy scored his second touchdown of the game on a one-yard run off a first-and-goal situation. Following the PAT, the Ironmen led, 28-6.

Hillsboro's most impressive defense of the game came on Jackson's final drive with HHS holding off the Ironmen as they attempted to add one final touchdown to their total.

HHS allowed gains of six yards on first down, followed by JHS having runs of one yard and two yards. On a fourth-and-1 from the 5-yard line, the Indians' defense smothered the runner of the Ironmen for a no gain, resulting in the goal line stand for the Indians.

Next for the Indians is their final home game of the regular season with the Indians hosting the Miami Trace Panthers (1-2, 1-7) in Week 9. On Friday night, the Panthers lost to the Chillicothe Cavaliers, 42-7. The Indians have won the past two meetings against Miami Trace.

Jackson will host the McClain Tigers Friday night in Week 9 play. McClain (0-3, 0-8) lost to the Washington Blue Lions Friday night by a 48-10 score.