Indians 'Spice it up' in 41-32 win over Broncos
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By RORY RYAN-
RICHARDS MEMORIAL FIELD — If variety is the spice of life, the Hillsboro Indians gave the Western Brown Broncos more than enough seasoning in Friday night’s opener at Richards Field.
An up-tempo, no huddle shotgun offense lived up to its preseason billing, as the Indians rolled to a 21-0 first-quarter lead en route to a 41-32 victory.
New Head Coach Brian Spicer promised the revamped offense would help Hillsboro control the speed and tempo of the game. His players didn’t disappoint the home faithful, either.
On the game’s opening possession, the Indians mixed up a series of running plays, culminating with a touchdown blast by senior running back Airic Steagall with 7:50 on the scoreboard clock. The point after put the Tribe on top, 7-0.
The Broncos, after a good return by Nick Woodyard to the 31, moved the ball on their initial possession. That is, until sophomore Chase Gilliland made a first-down saving, textbook tackle for the Tribe.
Hillsboro took over and promptly made it a 13-0 game on a touchdown pass from Aric Carroll to the speedy trackster Mason Hunick at the 3:36 mark. Hunick had an outstanding first quarter for the Indians, scoring one touchdown and saving another with a defensive interception in the Broncos’ end zone.
Steagall capped the first-period scoring by lumbering 80 yards off the power side on first-and-10 at the Hillsboro 20 with only 18 seconds on the game clock. A sideline warning penalty on the Broncos placed the ball inside the two and the Indians converted the deuce to go up, 21-0.
“We’d just come off Mason’s big interception and we ran our strong-side zone play,” Spicer said. “We had great blocks. Matt Gallimore, Mason, and Dawson Barreras all had great blocks. Everything worked because a lot of people did the right things on that play.”
Western Brown made a game of it, though, scoring an even dozen in the second quarter. Matthew Corcoran scampered for a 22-yard score on a quarterback keeper with 8:53 left in the half. After faking the PAT, an incomplete pass left the margin at 21-6. Corcoran wasn’t done yet, though. The junior signal-caller scored again; this time on a 17-yard run at the 4:42 mark. The point after sailed wide right and Hillsboro maintained a 21-12 lead to close out the half.
“We knew they would battle back,” Spicer said. “But we didn’t panic.”
Carroll and Steagall both topped 100 yards in rushing to pace the Hillsboro offense.
“When you come out with a win in the first week, it sure makes the second week a lot easier,” Spicer said. “Now, we have to learn how to respond to that feeling (of victory).”
Hillsboro (1-0) will respond this Friday by hosting Gallia Academy (0-1) on Sept. 4, before traveling to Dayton Stebbins on Sept. 11.[[In-content Ad]]
An up-tempo, no huddle shotgun offense lived up to its preseason billing, as the Indians rolled to a 21-0 first-quarter lead en route to a 41-32 victory.
New Head Coach Brian Spicer promised the revamped offense would help Hillsboro control the speed and tempo of the game. His players didn’t disappoint the home faithful, either.
On the game’s opening possession, the Indians mixed up a series of running plays, culminating with a touchdown blast by senior running back Airic Steagall with 7:50 on the scoreboard clock. The point after put the Tribe on top, 7-0.
The Broncos, after a good return by Nick Woodyard to the 31, moved the ball on their initial possession. That is, until sophomore Chase Gilliland made a first-down saving, textbook tackle for the Tribe.
Hillsboro took over and promptly made it a 13-0 game on a touchdown pass from Aric Carroll to the speedy trackster Mason Hunick at the 3:36 mark. Hunick had an outstanding first quarter for the Indians, scoring one touchdown and saving another with a defensive interception in the Broncos’ end zone.
Steagall capped the first-period scoring by lumbering 80 yards off the power side on first-and-10 at the Hillsboro 20 with only 18 seconds on the game clock. A sideline warning penalty on the Broncos placed the ball inside the two and the Indians converted the deuce to go up, 21-0.
“We’d just come off Mason’s big interception and we ran our strong-side zone play,” Spicer said. “We had great blocks. Matt Gallimore, Mason, and Dawson Barreras all had great blocks. Everything worked because a lot of people did the right things on that play.”
Western Brown made a game of it, though, scoring an even dozen in the second quarter. Matthew Corcoran scampered for a 22-yard score on a quarterback keeper with 8:53 left in the half. After faking the PAT, an incomplete pass left the margin at 21-6. Corcoran wasn’t done yet, though. The junior signal-caller scored again; this time on a 17-yard run at the 4:42 mark. The point after sailed wide right and Hillsboro maintained a 21-12 lead to close out the half.
“We knew they would battle back,” Spicer said. “But we didn’t panic.”
Carroll and Steagall both topped 100 yards in rushing to pace the Hillsboro offense.
“When you come out with a win in the first week, it sure makes the second week a lot easier,” Spicer said. “Now, we have to learn how to respond to that feeling (of victory).”
Hillsboro (1-0) will respond this Friday by hosting Gallia Academy (0-1) on Sept. 4, before traveling to Dayton Stebbins on Sept. 11.[[In-content Ad]]