Indians spank New Richmond, 71-7

(Continued from last week.)

Bethel-Tate traveled to Hillsboro on Oct. 13, 1995 to battle the undefeated Indians.

After a rather slow start, the Indians scored 20 points in the second quarter, taking a 26-2 halftime advantage (Bethel notched a first-quarter safety, caused by a low snap on a punt attempt, which was blocked by the visitors).

The Tribe added 24 points in the second half, resulting in a blowout score of 54-2.

Hillsboro tallied 300 rushing yards (holding the Tigers to 84) and added 90 passing yards (Bethel-Tate had 10). Another factor was that Bethel-Tate had four turnovers, while the Indians had none.

After this decisive win, Hillsboro stood 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the SBAC. They were ranked third in division III in the Associated Press state poll.

The SBAC standings, after four league games, were:

Hillsboro 4-0, 7-0

Williamsburg 3-1, 6-1

Clermont NE 3-1, 5-2

Loveland 2-2, 3-4

New Richmond 2-2, 2-5

W. Brown 1-3, 1-6

Bethel-Tate 1-3, 1-6

Blanchester 0-4, 0-7

Hillsboro traveled to New Richmond Oct. 20 for their fifth SBAC matchup. Hillsboro vs. New Richmond was a long and competitive series, which produced many close and exciting games. Not this time.

The Indians steamrolled the New Richmond Lions, 71-7. The red-and-white piled up a 39-0 halftime lead and a 58-0 third-quarter advantage on the way to their eighth win overall and their fifth SBAC victory.

The locals totaled 449 yards of total offense in this runaway win.

Looking back on the season, the 8-0 Indians had outscored their opponents 371-75 for an average score per game of 46-9. Over the preceding four weeks, the Tribe had won by an average score of 56-4. They had not yet trailed an opponent in any game.

At this point in the season, Hillsboro quarterback Jason Barton had already surpassed 1,000 yards for the season, and running back Keith Ford led all southwest Ohio backs in yards per carry.

Fullback Rusty Swackhamer had scored five touchdowns in the New Richmond game, and both T.J.Turner and C.J. Captain ranked among the leaders in the region on total pass receptions. Only Western Brown and Clermont Northeastern stood between the Indians and a perfect regular season.

Western Brown, the next opponent, sported a 1-7 overall record. On the same evening, Columbus DeSales walloped the McClain Tigers, 40-0, in Columbus, dropping the Tigers to 3-5 for the season. DeSales quarterback Joe Maglocca hit on 10 of 13 passes for 170 yards and one touchdown. The Stallions accumulated 371 yards of total offense to McClain’s 122. The Tigers would tangle with Deer Park on the 27th, at Greenfield.

On Oct. 27, Hillsboro headed to Mt. Orab to take on the Broncos. This turned out to be another mismatch, when running back Keith Ford gained 144 yards on 11 carries and recorded four touchdowns, as the 8-0 Indians made it 9-0 with a lopsided 41-7 road win.

The Tribe stormed to an Associated Press Division III No. 1 ranking in the state of Ohio following the Western Brown win. Only Clermont Northeastern remained in the path of an undefeated regular season. That game would be played on the Hillsboro turf Nov. 3. While the Indians
would be overwhelming favorites, Coach Jim Horne refused to talk about a (possible) state playoff berth.

CNE quarterback Tim Dawson and wide receiver Bruce Cutler were one of the most efficient passing duos in the region, and tight end Mike Doan (6’ 3” and 200 lbs.) had hurt the Indians, in 1994. Great pass defense in this game was critical.

While the Hillsboro team was ranked No. 1 in the AP poll, they were third in the all-important Harbin ratings, which determine who gets the playoff berths. Ross High School, of Hamilton, and London High School were ranked No. 1 and No. 2. A loss to CNE in the final regular season game would almost certainly eliminate the red-and-white from the playoffs.

As it turned out, Horne’s concerns were a little misplaced.

The Indians trounced CNE, 46-14, turning in a perfect 10-0 regular season, when Keith Ford rushed for 196 yards and five touchdowns, giving him nine touchdowns in the last two games.

CNE quarterback Tim Dawson hit on only 8 of 18 passing attempts for 70 yards and one touchdown, but was intercepted twice.

(Continued next week.)

Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.