London runs past Hillsboro, 34-8

After playing an inspired and competitive game against East Clinton last week, the Hillsboro Indians struggled mightily against a previously winless London Red Raiders team Friday at Richards Field.

London quarterback Kyle Fisher threw for one touchdown and ran for two more – including a 73-yard TD run – to pace the Raiders to a 34-8 SCOL win.

London had three touchdowns called back due to penalties.

Fisher put London on the board with a 22-yard TD pass to Dustin Coffey with 3:55 left in the first quarter.

The quarter ended with Hillsboro on the short end of a 7-0 score.

Hillsboro's resilient signal-caller Logan Lesley answered with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Kyler White with 10:20 to play in the second period. Craig Jackson ran it in for the two-point conversion, and Hillsboro had an 8-7 lead.

The Indians would not reach the end zone again, however, as London scored 27 unanswered points.

With 2:27 left in the half, Fisher raced in from 24 yards. Seth Roberts split the uprights for the point after, and the Raiders were up 14-8.

After a three-and-out offensive series by the Indians, London put the game out of reach by converting a third-and-18 from their own 27. With just 1:05 left before halftime, the Indians forced a third-and-long after an illegal procedure call on the Raiders. But Fisher kept the ball and raced down the visitors' sideline for a 73-yard touchdown.

The Raiders were in Hillsboro territory again late in the half before Drew Huffman sacked Fisher as time expired.

Hillsboro's Kordell Ford suffered an injury to his left knee with 6:58 left in the second quarter and did not return to the game.

The third quarter was controlled by the London offense. In fact, the Indians managed only six plays from scrimmage in the period.

Levi McClellan scored on a fourth down carry from 16 yards out at the 7:38 mark. The kick was no good, but the Red Raiders were in control, 27-8.

After an exchange of possessions, the Raiders marched 73 yards on a four-minute drive for the game's final points. This time, it was Ben Martin running into the end zone from 22 yards. Jacob Clark connected on the PAT to make it a 34-8 game.

In the fourth quarter, both teams played a number of underclassmen. Hillsboro sophomore Toby Warrington took over the offense and led a late drive deep into London territory. 

But with 18 seconds left on fourth and 10 from just outside the London 10, Warrington's pass was intercepted by Andrew Hoffman. Hoffman returned the football 90 yards for an apparent touchdown as time expired. However, an illegal block in the back nullified the TD. Hillsboro also was penalized for a personal foul on the play. As the clock stood at all zeroes, the game was over.

Hillsboro fell to (0-8), while London (1-7) won its first game of the season.

Hillsboro travels to Washington Court House on Oct. 19.

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1992 HHS team honored

• Prior to the kickoff, former head coach Jim Horne and several members of the 1992 10-0 SBC champion Hillsboro Indians were recognized on the 20th anniversary of their perfect regular season.

Score by quarters

LHS – 07 14 13 00 – 34
HHS – 00 08 00 00 – 8