Indians grind out SCOL win over Golden Eagles

     MT. STERLING – The rain was strong Friday night at Madison-Plains High School, but not enough to detour the Hillsboro Indians, as they outdueled the Golden Eagles behind a strong defensive effort, shutting out the host team 14-0 for their first South Central Ohio League win of the season.

     “Our offense didn’t take until the second half, but our defense continues to keep getting better each week,” Hillsboro head coach Brian Spicer said. “We didn’t change anything from the first half, we just executed better.”

     The game was scoreless after two quarters, in part, of the weather, but mostly behind a stingy Hillsboro defense.

     In the third quarter the Indians gained possession of the ball on the MP 5-yard line after HHS junior Mason Hunick intercepted a pass by MP freshman quarterback Seth Castro with 6:35 remaining in the quarter.

     Then the Indians reached pay dirt.

     On their first play after forcing the turnover, Hillsboro senior running back Airic Steagall went 5 yards into the end zone for a touchdown. Senior kicker Zack Fleming kicked the PAT for the 7-0 lead.

     The final score came with 2:40 remaining in the contest to seal the first SCOL win of the season, as junior quarterback Aric Carroll took the ball 1-yard into the end zone for six points. Fleming made another extra point for the final 14-0 lead.

     “The weather and field conditions really didn’t take affect until the second half,” Spicer said. “Both teams were playing tough. We did a great job up front and I am pleased with that. We made big plays in big situations.”

     Both teams had trouble out of the gate on offense in their first possessions, with the Indians forced to punt on a three-and-out. The Golden Eagles turned over the ball on their first play of offense.

     Hillsboro’s defense knocked the ball out of the Madison-Plains ball carriers hands and was recovered by senior defensive lineman Zane Yankie with 9:39 left in the opening quarter.

     The HHS offense gained a little more success on their second drive with Carroll finding Steagall for 21 yards through the air. Senior Patrick Garman pounded his way for 5 yards after a penalty on the Indians. Garman’s carry was followed with a 16-yard gain from the combo of Carroll and senior wide receiver Dawson Barreras, taking the ball to the MP 39-yard line. Steagall then grinded out an 8-yard run, but on a fourth-and-1, the Tribe’s offense was stopped for a turnover on downs.

     With the conditions worsening throughout the contest the next MP drive ended in a punt, but the Indians, again, finished with a turnover on downs.

     The third possession by HHS also ended with turnover on downs.

     Right after the turnover on downs, the rain-soaked Indian fans jumped to their feet as sophomore defensive back Chase Gilliland leaped into the air, while defending a MP wide receiver, and picked off a pass on the Madison-Plains 39-yard line with 1:48 left in the first quarter. Gilliland also kept the shut out alive in the final seconds of the fourth quarter when his gained his second interception of the game.

      The Indians turned over the ball with 7:10 remaining in the first half as MP senior John Wright recovered a HHS fumble on the MP 39-yard line.

     On a third-and-3 play with 8:08 left in the third quarter, a pass by Steagall was picked off by MP senior Jake Allen. But the favor was returned when Hunick had his interception on the ensuing drive which led to the first HHS score.

     The next time the Golden Eagles had possession of the ball, Steagall sacked Castro, and Hunick followed by breaking up a pass, nearly intercepting it.

     Still in the third quarter, Hunick continued to produce, this time on offense, with a 25-yard catch to keep the drive alive on third-and-12. His play was followed with a 6-yard, direct snap, run by Steagall, and a 17-yard reception by Barreras.

     MP forced another HHS turnover at the 10:34 mark of the fourth quarter with senior Jake Degen recovering a fumble.

     HHS sophomore Christian Wildey had one of the better hits on defense of the game with a towering hit on Allen, after Allen caught a 12-yard pass. On the same drive, HHS forced a turnover on downs with a sack by senior Jevin Smith.

     After the turnover on downs by MP, Steagall jetted his way for a 13-yard carry, following a monster block by senior offensive lineman Cody Matthews. That play came on the final scoring drive by the Indians in the fourth quarter.

     The win lifts the Indians to 5-2 overall, 1-2 in the SCOL. The win guarantees no less than a .500 regular season for the Tribe. MP falls to 2-5 overall, 1-2 in the SCOL.

     The Indians take the road for the third straight week next Friday, going back to Madison County, as they will face the London Red Raiders. LHS dropped their second straight game, third of the season, Friday night at Miami Trace High School, falling to the Panthers 24-21 in double overtime.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

HHS – 0 0 7 7 – 14

MPHS – 0 0 0 0 – 0