Lucky No. 7: HHS controls clock, gains win over Panthers
The Hillsboro Indians played keep away with the Miami Trace Panthers Friday night at Richards Memorial Field, controlling the clock by producing long drives and gaining big plays when needed,as the Indians defeated the Panthers 29-7 on Senior Night.
With this being the first time the Tribe has defeated rival Miami Trace in almost two decades, it was the way the Indians produced yardage, mixing up the run with the pass, and grinding out third down conversions that allowed them to gain their seventh win of the season.
“We talked earlier in the week about controlling the clock. (Friday) controlling the clock was big and we were able to keep their playmakers off the field,” Hillsboro head coach Brian Spicer said. “We had a couple three-and-outs in the fourth quarter, but we did what we needed to do.”
It was evident the Indians did what they needed to do in their opening drive of the game, taking 4:18 to score their first touchdown on a nine play, 60-yard drive.
The ground attack was the first to strike for the Indians with senior Airic Steagall and junior Matt Gallimore combining for the first carries of the quarter, followed with a 21-yard run by junior quarterback Aric Carroll, who was knocked into a puddle, out of bounds, at the Miami Trace 46-yard line.
Four plays later, it was the air attack that put points on the board, as Carroll found Steagall for 15 yards in the end zone for a touchdown. The PAT was no good, leaving the score at 6-0.
The Panthers had problems with the Tribe defense on their first possession, and throughout the first half. HHS (3-2, 7-2) held the Panthers to six plays on their first two possessions, for a combined 12 yards.
Hillsboro, on the other hand, continued to tick seconds off the clock with their rushing game during their second offensive drive. Carroll went around the corner, near the HHS sideline, for a 25-yard carry, and then came back with a 5-yard scamper.
But that drive, along with the following Indian offensive possession, ended with a punt.
The Panthers started to make a little noise on their third possession, with Ethan Snyder bashing his way through the defensive line of HHS for 23 yards. On third-and-6, Hillsboro senior Zane Yankee tackled Snyder, forcing the fourth down, where Indian sophomore Chase Gilliland tackled the MT punter on the MT 35-yard line, after the Panthers were unable to control the snap, forcing the turnover on downs.
Hillsboro capitalized on the turnover as they took chunks of yardage from the MT defense, with gains of 5, 6, 8, 6, and 8 to put the ball on the MT 10-yard line.
On third-and-9, Carroll reached pay dirt when he rushed toward the Panther sideline, turning the corner and breaking away for the TD. Steagall put HHS ahead 14 points with the converted 2-point conversion run, carrying MT defenders into the end zone.
One of the bigger hits of the game came on the ensuing kickoff when Gilliland took down the MT returner with a monster one-on-one hit.
HHS had one opportunity to add more points to their lead near the end of the first half. On second-and-15, with the ball on their own 40-yard line, the combo of Carroll-to-Steagall went for 27 yards, but the Tribe ran out of time and took a 14-0 lead into the locker room at the half.
“Aric (Carroll) manages the game so well,” Spicer said. “He allows everyone to be so good. He is a smart quarterback. He reads defenses well and being a junior, that’s a huge responsibility.”
In the first quarter, the Indians unofficially held MT to 54 total offensive yards on just 14 plays.
The Tribe wasted little time in the second half to add to their lead, making the score 22-0 with 7:47 left in the third quarter.
After forcing another three-and-out, the Indians benefited from a MT personal foul, taking the ball to the 45-yard line.
After a 4-yard gain by junior Dow Kiefer, Gallimore gained a first down with a 10-yard dash through the muddy field.
On the next play, Steagall danced his way into the end zone, when he rushed toward the Panther sideline, cut back, and turned the corner to the Hillsboro side of the field for a 31-yard score. The Tribe scored on a 2-point conversion pass when senior Ryan Grooms tossed the ball to senior Dawson Barreras in the back of the end zone for the conversion.
“Credit the play of Airic (Steagall),” Spicer said. “He turned 4-yard gains into 15-yard gains and he had unbelievable cutbacks. He made key catches and that’s the quality of play he brings to this team, and to his last home game.”
MT scored their lone touchdown on a three-play drive in the fourth quarter, off a turnover, when the drive was set up with a 23-yard reception as Tucker Hughes passed to Daniel Hiser to reach the HHS 12-yard line.
The next play saw Grant Jones rush the ball for six points with 8:26 left in the game. The PAT by Mark Griton made the score 22-7.
“Congratulate Hillsboro and coach (Brian) Spicer,” Miami Trace head coach Mike Bernard said. “They were physical and took it to us. When you lose the physical game, you aren’t going to win. We did some good things, but their (HHS) offensive game gave us problems. We had our chances, but we didn’t capitalize.”
The final Indian score came on a 29-yard catch by Steagall with 2:41 left in the game. Late in the fourth, HHS senior Patrick Garman made a 16-yard rush, carrying three MT players on his back before they could take him to the ground.
Carroll led HHS in rushing with 103 yards on the ground. The junior QB had three runs of 20-plus yards. Carroll also passed for 93 yards. Steagall finished with 76 yards rushing.
“I’ve been blessed coming here,” Spicer said. “This is the best team I have ever had. They have wanted to win since two-a-days. Since our loss to Washington, they have been mad. They have come back and played with great intensity.”
Next week the Tribe will play in the Rotary Bowl, as they face county rival McClain at McClain Field in Greenfield. The Indians have won the past two Rotary Bowls, but this game will have playoff implications for HHS.
“This is a big game. I have been apart of big rivalries being from Massillon and with Army-Navy. Our kids will be fired up, the McClain kids will be fired up, and it should be a good game. We will have a great week of practice, and I know our kids will be ready. If we want a shot at the playoffs, we have to win the game.”
The win lifts the Indians to 7-2 overall, 3-2 in the SCOL. Miami Trace drops to 4-5 overall, 3-2 in league play.
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