Hillsboro, McClain games postponed

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Both Hillsboro and McClain football teams struck quick as lightning in their games Friday night, scoring on their first drives with three plays to score for McClain and only one for the Indians.

Unfortunately for both teams, before the halftime buzzer even sounded at each game, real lighting stuck and led to an eventual postponement of the games.

For Hillsboro, the Indians were on their home field hosting Goshen. Weather was a problem early and the start time of the game was pushed back to 8 p.m.

Goshen was up first on offense and the Hillsboro defense stalled the Goshen offense after a tackle for a loss and then a botched snap by Goshen on a fourth down attempt. That gave the Indians the ball on their own 19 yard-line.

This is when the Indians dug into their playbook and pulled out a tricky first play that had Goshen fooled.

Quarterback Hunter Chain took the snap and handed the ball off to Brian Smith and it looked to be your regular running play to start the offense. But then Smith slowed down and and came up with the ball for a throw. The pass found Ryan Hagan who took the ball the rest of the way, untouched for a 81 yard gain and the touchdown. The kick after was good and Hillsboro led 7-0 with 7:51 to go in the first quarter.

Goshen was able to get on the board themselves with 2:04 to go in the first on a quarterback keeper for a 46 yard gain and the touchdown to make it 7-7.

Neither team made much noise until 3:34 to go in the half and referees waved their hands and paused the game due to lightning. Both teams made their way to the locker rooms and 30 minutes later the announcement was made that the game had been postponed.

The game will pick back up on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. with Hillsboro having possession of the ball with 3:34 left in the half on their own 42 yard-line with a first and ten to go. This has been the first time in decades that a game has been postponed.

In the McClain game, the Tigers were on the road against Unioto and scored almost as quickly in their game.

On the opening kickoff, Alex Hollar returned the ball 45 yards and set the Tigers up in great field position. A couple downs later, quarterback Tristan Pitzer took to the air with a pass and found his receiver who took the ball all the way down to the one yard line before he was tackled. Gabe Adams finished off the scoring drive with a one-yard run to put McClain on the board. The point after was blocked and the Tigers led the Sherman Tanks 6-0 with 10:54 to go in the first quarter.

With 7:36 left in the first half, the game was postponed due to lightning. That game will resume at 10 a.m. with McClain having the ball on their own 46 with a second and 12 to go with 7:36 left in the half.

Reach Robert Stegbauer at 937-393-3456 ext. 1679 or on Twitter @RStegbauer.

Hillsboro Ryan Hagan cathes a pass on the first play of the Indians’ opening drive in Friday night’s game. The catch led to an 81-yard pickup and touchdown for the home team.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2015/09/web1_Hagan.jpgHillsboro Ryan Hagan cathes a pass on the first play of the Indians’ opening drive in Friday night’s game. The catch led to an 81-yard pickup and touchdown for the home team. Robert Stegbauer | The Times-Gazette

Hillsboro’s Curran Butler makes a tackle on a Goshen player Friday night
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2015/09/web1_Butler.jpgHillsboro’s Curran Butler makes a tackle on a Goshen player Friday night Robert Stegbauer | The Times-Gazette
Both games will be resumed Saturday afternoon

By Robert Stegbauer

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