Indians unable to overcome first-half deficit against Chillicothe

CHILLICOTHE — Though the Hillsboro Indians had their best part of the game in the third quarter, the deficit they had to overcome from a tough first half and the same in the fourth quarter was just too much for the Indians to take on, falling on the road to the host Chillicothe Cavaliers by a 49-17 score. 

The loss at Herrnstein Field on Chillicothe’s homecoming night saw the Indians go from trailing 28-3 at halftime to ending the third quarter trailing by a 28-17 score, but that was as close as the Indians would get against the Cavaliers.

Hillsboro was outscored 21-0 in the final 12 minutes to suffer their third consecutive loss since the start of the Frontier Athletic Conference schedule. The Indians, with the loss, fell to 4-4 overall after Week 8, with an 0-3 record in the FAC. Chillicothe improves to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the FAC. 

Chillicothe’s 49 points are the most they’ve scored in a game this season, and to reach that season milestone they began the game with a touchdown on their first drive, one that lasted seven plays and went for 71 yards. 

Top standout and Division I recruit Cartae Ligon did a lot of damage against Hillsboro in the first quarter, having roughly 130 rushing yards in the first quarter, including 66 yards rushing on the first drive with runs of 8, 9, 5, and then he capped off the opening drive with a 44-yard touchdown with just under 11:00 left in the opening quarter. The touchdown run saw him race wide toward the CHS sideline, then he shifted into another gear, racing to the end zone for six points. The extra point was good for a 7-0 CHS lead. 

HHS answered with a 16-play drive that began at their own 31-yard line. The drive saw the Indians chip away at the defense of the Cavaliers, with runs from Collin Swackhamer, Jack Cornele, Zack Brown and Mason Dumpert, getting all the way to the 6-yard line of CHS and fourth-and-goal. 

Hillsboro opted to kick a field goal from around 22 yards, and Cooper Swope drilled the kick through the uprights for three points and a 7-3 score with 2:50 left in the first quarter. 

That was all the Indians' scoring for the first two quarters, but the Cavaliers still had a ways to go with scoring points in the first half. 

Starting their second offensive drive on their own 38-yard line, it took the Cavs one play to score a touchdown as Ligon rushed for a 62-yard score with 2:36 left in the quarter. The one-play, 10-second drive (plus a PAT) allowed the Cavaliers to take a 14-3 lead. 

HHS had a turnover around the 10:30 mark of the second quarter with the Cavaliers recovering the fumble on the snap. Chillicothe took advantage of the turnover by scoring their third touchdown of the first half, leaving 6:14 left in the second quarter. The touchdown scored was a 5-yard pass from Andrew Hamman to Karter Williams. The PAT was good for a 21-3 CHS lead. 

The Indians put together another drive to get in field goal range, but the kick was just off. CHS received the ball on the 20-yard line following the missed field goal, and this drive totaled 80 yards, ending with a 49-yard pass from Hammon to Williams for six points. The touchdown and PAT conversion lifted the Cavs’ lead to 28-3, a score that stood at halftime. 

Though the third quarter was Hillsboro’s best quarter of the game, it began with an interception, but the defense of the Indians overcame that by forcing a Chillicothe punt. 

Hillsboro came back on offense and proceeded to score their first touchdown of the game. The drive had rushes from Braylon Mays, Swackhamer and Cornele, including a 21-yard run by Cornele on third down-and-2 to keep the drive going. 

Later, there was a 12-yard reception by Brown off a pass from Dumpert, taking the ball to the CHS 4-yard line for first-and-goal. The Indians took the ball to the end zone with a 4-yard run from Cornele with 1:34 left in the third. The PAT by Swope was good for a 28-10 score. 

The Indians’ defense stepped up, causing a turnover when on the first play of the drive by CHS, Malachi Aber tipped a Chillicothe pass, and that was intercepted by Swackhamer with 1:24 left in the quarter. 

Hillsboro scored their second touchdown of the third quarter with a Dumpert pass to Landon Jordan for a 26-yard touchdown. Swope’s PAT kick was good for a 28-17 score with 29 seconds left in the third. 

That was all the scoring the Indians had for the rest of the FAC game, but CHS had fourth-quarter touchdowns consisting of a 20-yard run by Ligon, then an interception for a touchdown by Jason Riley that made it a 42-17 score. CHS added one final touchdown with 2:34 on the clock when a pass from Hamman to Jeremy Cain for a 72-yard touchdown sealed the win.

Defensively for the Indians, Swackhamer led with nine tackles and an interception. John Deans collected a sack for the Indians, causing an 11-yard loss early in the second quarter. Others with sacks were Logan Holland and Ryker Snyder. 

Others for HHS with tackles were: Mays (2), Dumpert (1), Cornele (4), Brown (3), Jordan (1), Landon Holland (6), Shawn Hottinger (2), Aber (3), JaHari Pitts (1) and Kaiden Robbins (2). 

Next for Hillsboro (0-3, 4-4) is a Week 9 home game against the Washington Blue Lions (1-2, 4-4) at 7 p.m. at Richards Memorial Field. Chillicothe (2-1, 5-3) will host the McClain Tigers (0-3, 3-5) in Week 9 at 7 p.m.