Massie runs through Hillsboro

The Clinton-Massie Falcons didn’t have to fly to gain their fourth win of the season, as their ground game did most of the work in their 44-7 South Central Ohio League opener victory over the Hillsboro Indians Friday night at Richards Memorial Field.

Massie (1-0, 4-0) controlled the game from start to finish, ending the game with 325 yards rushing against the Division III Associated Press No. 14 state-ranked Indians.

Jordy Scanlon led all rushers with 21 carries for 147 yards and three touchdowns for the Falcons.

The Falcons, who entered the game ranked No. 14 in the Division IV AP week one poll, scored their first touchdown in just nine plays, taking less than four minutes to off the clock.

“They (CM) are a very good football team,” Hillsboro head coach Brian Spicer said. “We didn’t play well and this, by far, was our worst game. I tell the kids we play two bad games a year, but we made too many mistakes.”

            The opening drive by the Falcons started on their own 39-yard line after a TD was called back on a personal foul penalty on the opening kickoff.

   In the opening drive Massie grinded out eight straight runs to reach the HHS 24-yard line. On the ninth play of the drive C-M junior quarterback Jake Richardson, who finished the night 4 of 4 for 50 yards, found recently converted tight end Corby Running (Running started the season at offensive guard) for a 24-yard touchdown, wide-open in the end zone. C-M sophomore kicker Geremie Dart made the score 7-0 with the converted extra point with 8:01 remaining in the first quarter. In the game, Running had two catches for 47 yards.

    “This is the first game we found ourselves,” C-M head coach Dan McSurley said. “We got production from all our backs. We were able to get (Corby) Running at tight end and that opened up our passing game. With him at tight end we got a weapon.”

   The weapons of the Falcons were in full force in their second offensive drive, as they scored in five plays, totaling 59 yards, ending with Scanlon busting his way up the middle of the HHS defense for a 6-yard score with 4:50 left in the first quarter, on a third-and-goal.

   Hillsboro’s high scoring offensive attack from the previous three games came alive briefly on their second drive in the first quarter with senior running back Airic Steagall showing his speed with a 29-yard run from his own 20-yard line. HHS, though, was held to a turnover on downs.

   C-M went three-for-three on offensive drives by scoring on a first-and-10 from the HHS 26-yard line when junior Scott Wilkie rushed for a 26-yard TD through the middle of the defensive line of Hillsboro. Wilkie rushed for 90 yards on 11 carries. A two-point conversion pass from Richardson to Running gave C-M a 21-0 lead with 11:12 left in the second quarter.

   The Falcons continued to keep their foot on the gas as they scored on their fourth straight drive, taking 1:24 to go 45 yards. The drive started with a 9-yard pass to Coty Burton, followed with an 8-yard run by Scanlon. Gunner Calhoun busted out for a 15-yard dash, and the drive ended on a 15-yard run by Scanlon. The PAT gave C-M a four touchdown lead at 28-0 with 8:18 left in the first half. Burton had two carries for 59 yards against HHS.

   The Indians geared up and built a positive drive near the end of the first half, with Steagall gaining a 12-yard run. Steagall finished with 63 yards on nine carries.

   Later in the drive, on fourth-and-8, Dawson Barreras caught a 21-yard pass, but the next play saw the pass from Aric Carroll intercepted by CM senior defensive back Tyler Borton at the HHS 3-yard line.

   “We toughened up on defense,” McSurley said. “Our front seven is solid, but our secondary needs to stay back and we will be fine. Our defense is very physical.”

   In the first half the Falcons rushed for 161 yards. The Indians were held to just 52 rushing and 54 passing yards after two quarters.

   The Indians rebound on their opening offensive possession of the second half, as it took just five plays for the Tribe to reach the end zone for their only touchdown of the game. The TD drive had its share of big plays, but the biggest came on a 37-yard run from junior Matt Gallimore that took HHS to the Massie 28-yard line. Gallimore finished with nine carries for 67 yards for 7.7 yards per carry.

   On second-and-10 Steagall, on a halfback pass, found Barreras wide-open for a 28-yard TD with 9:54 left in the third quarter. The PAT made the score 28-7.

   The HHS momentum lasted until Massie gained possession of the football, as their ground attack returned in the second half to break apart the HHS defense.

   Massie tallied up seven straight rushing plays, settling for a 22-yard field goal with 5:58 left in the third.

   For the remainder of the game the Indians had a few outstanding plays on the offensive side, with Dow Kiefer catching an 18-yard pass from Carroll, but that drive ended with a turnover on downs. Carroll tallied 107 yards passing going 11 of 24 in week four. Kiefer had four catches for 39 yards.

   Regaining possession on the turnover on downs, Massie took one play to add to their lead with a 40-yard run up the middle of the field from Burton with 3:11 left in the third. The PAT gave CM a 31-point lead.

   The final Massie score was in the fourth quarter with 6:57 left in regulation as Scanlon reached the end zone with an 8-yard dash for the 44-7 score.

   HHS ended the game with 97 total rushing yards.

   Massie had 19 first downs, with HHS finishing with 17.

   Calhoun led CM on defense with 9.5 tackles. Alec Burton had 8.5 tackles and four broken up passes.

   Spicer said his team needs to improve if they want to add games to the win column.

   “If we play like this the rest of the year, we won’t win many more games,” he said. “We have to play better and make better decisions.”

   The win lifts Massie to 4-0 overall, 1-0 in the SCOL. HHS drops to 3-1 overall, 0-1 in league play.

   HHS will play at home this coming Friday as they host Washington in league play at 7:30 p.m.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

CMHS – 14 14 10 6 – 44

HHS – 0 0 7 0 – 7