The Hillsboro Indians traveled to East Clinton High School on Friday night to take on former South Central Ohio League rivals the East Clinton Astros.
The Astros opened the game on the offensive side of the ball receiving the opening kickoff and returning it to the East Clinton 39. On the very next play Astros QB Brendan Jenkins connected with WR Patrick Dotson on a 61-yard touchdown pass. The ensuing extra point gave East Clinton an early 7 – 0 lead.
The ensuing kickoff by the Astros was returned to the Hillsboro 33 by Devon Gallimore. What ensued was an 11-play scoring drive for the Indians that ended with a Mark Gallimore Touchdown run from five yards out. The point after try was good to tie the game at seven points apiece with 6:43 to go in the first quarter.
On their next possession, the Astros were moving the ball well before stalling at the Hillsboro 25. Following an incomplete pass on second down East Clinton failed to convert third down on a pass to Austin Rolfe that went nowhere. The Astros decided to go for it on fourth down and handed the ball off to Todd Wedding who was hit immediately for no gain and a turnover on downs.
With 1:41 left on the clock in the first quarter the Indians got the ball back at their own 23-yard line. In two plays Hillsboro went 73 yards for a momentum swinging touchdown. The scoring play saw Indians QB Mason Swayne complete a 65-yard pass to WR Britton Haines. After the successful point after the Indians were leading 14 – 7 with just under a minute to go in the first quarter.
Just as the second quarter got underway Astros QB Jenkins attempted a short pass that was intercepted by D. Gallimore and returned 46 yards for another touchdown for the Indians. Following a good point after Hillsboro led by a score of 21 – 7.
The ensuing Astros possession ended in a punt after the team gained a first down on the drive they were unable to convert again.
After a punt to Haines that was returned to the Hillsboro 40-yard line the Indians needed only one play to increase their lead. RB Josh Keets took a pitch 60 yards to the house. The ensuing PAT was good by the Indians increasing their lead to 28 -7 with just under nine minutes to go in the first half.
The Astros looked like they might be able to muster some offense on the next drive as the first play went for 10 yards and a first down. But, it was not to be as East Clinton threw two incomplete passes on second and third down leading to another punt for the Clinton County boys.
The punt from the Astros traveled all the way to the Hillsboro 3-yard line before rolling out of bounds giving the Indians a long field. The Indians however, showed they were up to the challenge when on the sixth play of the drive Swayne kept the ball himself and ran 70 yards for another Indian touchdown. The successful PAT gave Hillsboro a 35 – 7 lead.
The Indians added another touchdown before halftime when Haines intercepted a pass and returned it 40 yards for the score. Another PAT and the Indians were ahead by a score of 42 – 7 at the half.
The third quarter saw the Indians add another touchdown after possessing the ball for the large majority of the quarter but the PAT was no good. Giving Hillsboro a 48 – 7 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
A continuous running clock in the second half allowed the Indians to make short work of the Astros and claim the 48 – 7 victory.
Astros head coach Jeremy Yankey said after the game, “We came out and hooked up on our first play of the game for a touchdown and had a little momentum. But we still lack mental and physical toughness. They turned around and tied it at seven and we weren’t able to recover. We have to figure a lot of stuff out.”
Jack O’Rourke the head coach for the Indians is looking forward to next week’s game against Williamsburg. “They are a really well coached team, they are a small school but they have a lot of grit and fight in them. We have to come out and play like we did tonight and play solid football.”
The Indians will host Williamsburg next week in Hillsboro while the Astros will travel to Greenfield to take on the McClain Tigers.
Reach Ryan Applegate at 937-402-2572, or on Twitter @RCApplegate89.
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