Second-half collapse costly as Indians fall to Western Brown

It was an exciting – yet strange – first half of high school football Friday night in Mount Orab.

In a first half that featured three onside kicks by the same team – the visiting Hillsboro Indians – the former conference rivals battled to a 14-14 deadlock after 24 minutes. The second half, however, was all Western Brown, as the Broncos galloped to a 41-14 season-opening victory.

The final score was eerily reminiscent of last year's game, won by Western Brown, 41-12.

Western Brown scored first on a quarterback-keeper by Devyn Wood from a yard out at the 9:55 mark of the first period. Left-footed placekicker Justin Berkely nailed the point-after and it was 7-0 Broncos. For the game Wood finished with 202 yards passing (12-of-24), along with 20 yards rushing.

Western Brown began the scoring drive with outstanding field position. That would prove to be a recurrent trend throughout the contest. Hillsboro opened the 2012 season with an onside kick, which Scott Ryan recovered at the 50-yard marker.

Jared Mosley tackled talented WB runningback Gunnar Woodyard (12 carries for 41 total rushing yards in the game) for a two-yard loss, but then Wood found Christian Dawson (three receptions for team-hogh 54 yards) through the air for a 10-yard gain before Josh Coldiron made the stop for Brian Spicer's Indians.

The Broncos converted a fourth-down play to move the chains and set up the 50-yard scoring drive.

Kordell Ford answered for the Indians at the 4:09 mark. Ford bulled his way off left tackle and through the Broncos' defense for a tough, 10-yard TD. The point after by Zach Stacy tied the game at 7-7.

Once again, Hillsboro employed some trickery on the ensuing kickoff. This time the ball failed to travel 10 yards and Western Brown recovered at the Hillsboro 42.

Hillsboro's lack of a consistent kicking game would lead to great field position and scoring opportunities for Evan Dreyer's Broncos all evening.

The Indians' defense rose to the challenge and stopped the Broncos on their second possession.

In the second quarter, Hillsboro's Craig Jackson rushed for four yards, followed by a three-yard gain by Ford. Quarterback Logan Lesley connected with Ford for 11 more yards and the chains moved forward. The Indians moved inside the Western Brown 20-yard line before Lesley was sacked on a fourth-and-14 play at the 8:34 mark.

Once again, the Hillsboro defense stopped the Broncos. With 8:05 on the clock, the Indians regained possession. Kyler White, Lesley and Jackson combined for nine yards, setting up a crucial fourth-and-one at the WB 21. Spicer called Jackson's number and the small, but powerful runningback picked up the yardage. Lesley followed with a 13-yard run and Hillsboro had a first-and-goal at the Broncos' seven.

Ford finished the scoring drive with his second touchdown of the night and Hillsboro owned a 14-7 lead with 5:27 remaining in the first half, after Stacy's PAT.

In the next 29 minutes, Western Brown would go on to outscore Hillsboro, 34-0.

The second half started with the Indians falling asleep on the kickoff. Berkely kicked a long, high strike that hit the turf around the Hillsboro 20-yard line. The Indians failed to catch or attempt to recover the football. The Broncos pounced on the loose ball and took possession at the Indians' 20.

On the next play, the Broncos went with an empty backfield as Wood fired what appeared to be a 20-yard TD pass. A holding penalty nullified the touchdown. On a third-and-10 snap at the Hillsboro 10-yard line, Jackson tackled Wood for a loss and Western Brown settled for a field goal attempt. The kick failed and Hillsboro dodged a bullet.

But only temporarily.

Late in the third period, Wood scrambled for a five-yard touchdown to make it a 21-14 game after 36 minutes.

The Hillsboro engine ran out of steam in the fourth quarter. The period started with a questionable non-call of a possible late hit on Lesley.

Then, in a span of less than six minutes, Western Brown scored three touchdowns. Dawson caught a Wood pass for one score. Jake Lawson ran 21 yards for another TD. Woodyard capped the offense with a 20-yard run with 2:28 left on the clock.

Both coaches played their underclassmen in the final minutes, as the game clock winded down.

The Indians (0-1) travel to Goshen (1-) on Aug. 31. The Warriors defeated Hamilton Ross, 21-20, Friday.

Score by quarters

HHS – 07 07 00 00 – 14
WBHS – 07 07 07 20 – 41