Austin Barrett sets school rushing record; Hillsboro Indians win in OT over Williamsburg
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
HILLSBORO — Hillsboro junior Austin Barrett was a stone cold rushing machine Friday night in Week 4. The fullback set the school record in rushing yards for a game with 370 yards on 22 carries, plus he tied the school record with five touchdown runs en route to the Hillsboro Indians’ 48-41 win in overtime against the visiting Williamsburg Wildcats at Richards Memorial Field, as this was the first loss of the season for the Wildcats.
On the historic night for the Indians — which was their second consecutive win of the 2022 season — Barrett was nearly unstoppable, as he broke the previous school record for rushing yards for a game, set back on Oct. 30, 2009 when Airic Steagall rushed for 348 yards on 21 carries with four touchdowns in the ’09 Rotary Bowl.
“I am so proud of everyone who went out there on that field,” Barrett said following his record-setting performance. “It is baffling to me right now, I can’t put it into words. It was a good day.
“It is the best feeling in the world. It was amazing, and it felt great.”
The touchdown record for a game, which Barrett tied, was set on Oct. 21, 2016 when Luke Gallimore rushed for five touchdowns and 276 yards.
This Friday night, Barrett joined both of those stellar players in the HHS history book with his overall effort for the Indians. Barrett had touchdown runs of 10, 17, 16 and 5 yards and the game-winning 20-yard rush in overtime, as his offensive line included Deegan Bloomfield, Ayden Clemons, Ian Lawson, Ryan Mau and Gary Reno.
“They (the offensive line) did fantastic, and I would have never gotten anywhere without them, ever,” Barrett said. “They are the best I’ve ever been behind.”
The fullback Barrett also talked about scoring what was the game-winning touchdown in overtime.
“It was like living in a dream. It was fantastic,” Barrett said.
Hillsboro head coach Nathan Horne spoke highly of his team and their will to keep competing and make the big plays when they needed to in the overtime win.
“We are a blue-collar team. We lift three days a week, we run three days a week, so we lift hard, we run hard, and sometimes you don’t get to show kids how those things pan out and help you, but we did today,” Horne said. “It was gut check time, and we knew we had to take it to (Williamsburg) because we thought they would line up and take our outside edges away. So, we just took it right to them.
“Our offensive line and Austin just played their tails off. I’m so proud of the kids. As for Austin, he’s a great kid, and we’ve been working close together with the coaching staff, and Austin has fallen in love with the weight room. He absolutely loves football, and I was so glad to see him play that kind of game today, because if anybody deserves it, he deserves it.
“Again, it was a full team effort,” Horne continued. “Gary Reno just blocks his tail off, and Deegan Bloomfield blocks his tail off. Dorian Stewart (Hillsboro’s tight end) also blocked his tail off. All around, I told them before the game we are going to show them how country boys play football, and I feel we did a good job of that today.”
Barrett wasted little time, as his first run of the game went for a 72-yard gain, followed by quarterback Cam Smart running for a gain of nine yards, taking the ball to the 17-yard line. After a six-yard gain by Dom Smart, it was Barrett barreling his way to the end zone on a 10-yard rush on first-and-goal with 4:32 left in the opening quarter, completing the 97-yard drive. The PAT by Nick Turner left the Indians ahead by a 7-0 score.
Williamsburg answered quickly with a 44-yard screen pass on the third play of the ensuing drive as JJ Miller found Trystan Gries for the score with 3:40 left on the first-quarter clock. The PAT was good for a 7-7 score.
Hillsboro answered with another strong drive, as they put together eight plays and 55 yards which resulted in a 17-yard run by Barrett to the end zone as time expired in the first quarter. The PAT by Turner sailed through the uprights for a 14-7 HHS advantage.
That drive saw three runs by Barrett for a combined 11 yards, followed by a 2-yard gain from Travis Ross. Next were gains of 10, 5 and 9 yards and the 17-yard score, all by Barrett, as the fullback totaled 134 yards in the first quarter.
The defense of the Indians made a big play with 10:43 left in the second quarter with Nic Burns causing a fumble and the ball being recovered by Cam Smart, as the duo stopped the Wildcats from scoring a touchdown and forced a turnover at the Indians’ 3-yard line.
On the next drive, there was heartbreak for the Indians as Cam Smart — a senior quarterback — was injured, as he was tackled on an option keeper run where he gained 15 yards and a first down with 9:59 left in the second quarter. Smart didn’t return to the game due to the injury.
“Cam, I hate to see that, and he’s a great kid,” Horne said of the Indians’ starting quarterback. “Being a senior, that’s not what you want to see, so I’m hoping he’ll be OK, but his injury was an unfortunate situation.”
After the injury and a punt, neither team scored points for a little while in the second quarter… that was until Williamsburg shocked the Indians’ defense with a 50-yard touchdown pass as time expired in the first half. The play saw Alex Ervin catch the pass in the back of the end zone with no time left on the clock for six points. The Indians had Burns block the PAT, keeping the Indians in the lead at 14-13 when halftime arrived.
On the first drive of the third quarter, the Wildcats took the lead with a second-and-goal play as Miller found Gries for a 10-yard touchdown pass, leaving 10:21 left in the third quarter. The two-point conversion attempt was good when Miller passed to Ervin, putting Williamsburg ahead, 21-14.
Hillsboro didn’t get down, but they battled back, as Barrett had a 50-yard rush on second-and-19, taking the ball from the Indians’ 19-yard line to the 31-yard line of Williamsburg. Next were gains of 11 and four yards by Dom Smart, putting the Indians at the 16-yard line.
On the ensuing second down play, Barrett was racing to the end zone for a touchdown as the Richards Memorial Field scoreboard read 7:30 left in the third. Turner’s PAT tied the score at 21.
Later in the third, Ross was scoring six points when he scored on second-and-goal from the 5-yard line with 3:11 still remaining in the quarter. Burns again made the PAT for a 28-21 HHS lead.
Williamsburg didn’t trail for long because four plays later, Miller found Bryce Little for a 51-yard touchdown through the air. The Wildcats took the one-point lead with a 2-point conversion pass from Miller to Jace Canter with 2:15 left in the third for a 29-28 advantage.
With 10:42 left in the fourth quarter, Hillsboro was back in the end zone with Ross rushing for a 36-yard touchdown run, his second of the game. HHS failed on the 2-point conversion run for a 34-29 lead.
The lead shifted back to Williamsburg with 5:15 left in regulation when Little passed to Ervin for a 5-yard touchdown reception. The 2-point attempt was incomplete, putting the Wildcats ahead by one-point at 35-34.
Offense was still going strong for HHS on the next drive when Barrett had gains of 38, 2 and 20 yards and a 5-yard scamper to the end zone with 3:29 left in the fourth quarter, as the Indians took a 41-35 lead.
The Wildcats tied the score with 2:20 left in regulation when Miller rushed for a 14-yard score on first down. The PAT was wide left, leaving the score tied at 41 points each.
As the fourth quarter continued, the Indians lost the ball on a pitch, and it was recovered by Little on the HHS 31-yard line. With time nearly expired, the Wildcats went for the game-winning field goal from around 20 yards out. The play saw WHS fumble the snap and be tackled to force overtime.
Hillsboro had possession first, and it took only one play for Barrett to race 20 yards for six points. Turner made the PAT for a 48-41 lead. Williamsburg then had their opportunity from the 20-yard line, and on first and second down, tackles by Ryan Mau and Ross led to a third-and-8 situation. Gary Reno came away with a sack on third down, resulting in a loss of nine yards, forcing a fourth-and-17 play. The pass was dropped close to the end zone, ending the game.
“Gary comes in at the end and makes a big sack, and that really put them behind and changed their play calling,” Horne said. “That really was the play at the end that put (Williamsburg) behind the 8-ball, and it was a great play.
“Gary has a motor that never stops. You can see that motor all the time, every play, and he gives you everything he’s got. He’s just a great kid.”
Next for Hillsboro (2-2) is a home non-conference game against the Clermont Northeastern Rockets (2-2) at Richards Memorial Field at 7 p.m. in Week 5 on Friday, Sept. 16. CNE lost in Week 4 by a score of 23-18 to Cincinnati Summit Country Day.
“This win is enormous, it really is. That’s the difference in a season,” Horne said of the win and big plays made by HHS on Friday night. “We can now push forward and push harder. We can get into better shape and work harder and get better from this win.
“This was a great all-around effort, the kids stuck it out and hung in there the whole time. I’m super proud of them, and it was a great game.”
GAME NOTES: Hillsboro’s Ryan Burns had a tackle for loss (2 yards) in the first quarter … Gary Reno made a sack for a 5-yard loss in the first quarter … Williamsburg had a TD run of 58 yards called back due to a chop block penalty … HHS freshman QB Preston Fauber completed his first pass in the second quarter for a 2-yard gain to Dom Smart … Ryan Burns had a tackle for loss on the first drive of the third quarter … Deegan Bloomfield had a TFL for 4 yards in the third quarter … Burns also had a TFL for 1 yard in the third … Mau had a sack for a 7-yard loss to end the third quarter.
On the historic night for the Indians — which was their second consecutive win of the 2022 season — Barrett was nearly unstoppable, as he broke the previous school record for rushing yards for a game, set back on Oct. 30, 2009 when Airic Steagall rushed for 348 yards on 21 carries with four touchdowns in the ’09 Rotary Bowl.
“I am so proud of everyone who went out there on that field,” Barrett said following his record-setting performance. “It is baffling to me right now, I can’t put it into words. It was a good day.
“It is the best feeling in the world. It was amazing, and it felt great.”
The touchdown record for a game, which Barrett tied, was set on Oct. 21, 2016 when Luke Gallimore rushed for five touchdowns and 276 yards.
This Friday night, Barrett joined both of those stellar players in the HHS history book with his overall effort for the Indians. Barrett had touchdown runs of 10, 17, 16 and 5 yards and the game-winning 20-yard rush in overtime, as his offensive line included Deegan Bloomfield, Ayden Clemons, Ian Lawson, Ryan Mau and Gary Reno.
“They (the offensive line) did fantastic, and I would have never gotten anywhere without them, ever,” Barrett said. “They are the best I’ve ever been behind.”
The fullback Barrett also talked about scoring what was the game-winning touchdown in overtime.
“It was like living in a dream. It was fantastic,” Barrett said.
Hillsboro head coach Nathan Horne spoke highly of his team and their will to keep competing and make the big plays when they needed to in the overtime win.
“We are a blue-collar team. We lift three days a week, we run three days a week, so we lift hard, we run hard, and sometimes you don’t get to show kids how those things pan out and help you, but we did today,” Horne said. “It was gut check time, and we knew we had to take it to (Williamsburg) because we thought they would line up and take our outside edges away. So, we just took it right to them.
“Our offensive line and Austin just played their tails off. I’m so proud of the kids. As for Austin, he’s a great kid, and we’ve been working close together with the coaching staff, and Austin has fallen in love with the weight room. He absolutely loves football, and I was so glad to see him play that kind of game today, because if anybody deserves it, he deserves it.
“Again, it was a full team effort,” Horne continued. “Gary Reno just blocks his tail off, and Deegan Bloomfield blocks his tail off. Dorian Stewart (Hillsboro’s tight end) also blocked his tail off. All around, I told them before the game we are going to show them how country boys play football, and I feel we did a good job of that today.”
Barrett wasted little time, as his first run of the game went for a 72-yard gain, followed by quarterback Cam Smart running for a gain of nine yards, taking the ball to the 17-yard line. After a six-yard gain by Dom Smart, it was Barrett barreling his way to the end zone on a 10-yard rush on first-and-goal with 4:32 left in the opening quarter, completing the 97-yard drive. The PAT by Nick Turner left the Indians ahead by a 7-0 score.
Williamsburg answered quickly with a 44-yard screen pass on the third play of the ensuing drive as JJ Miller found Trystan Gries for the score with 3:40 left on the first-quarter clock. The PAT was good for a 7-7 score.
Hillsboro answered with another strong drive, as they put together eight plays and 55 yards which resulted in a 17-yard run by Barrett to the end zone as time expired in the first quarter. The PAT by Turner sailed through the uprights for a 14-7 HHS advantage.
That drive saw three runs by Barrett for a combined 11 yards, followed by a 2-yard gain from Travis Ross. Next were gains of 10, 5 and 9 yards and the 17-yard score, all by Barrett, as the fullback totaled 134 yards in the first quarter.
The defense of the Indians made a big play with 10:43 left in the second quarter with Nic Burns causing a fumble and the ball being recovered by Cam Smart, as the duo stopped the Wildcats from scoring a touchdown and forced a turnover at the Indians’ 3-yard line.
On the next drive, there was heartbreak for the Indians as Cam Smart — a senior quarterback — was injured, as he was tackled on an option keeper run where he gained 15 yards and a first down with 9:59 left in the second quarter. Smart didn’t return to the game due to the injury.
“Cam, I hate to see that, and he’s a great kid,” Horne said of the Indians’ starting quarterback. “Being a senior, that’s not what you want to see, so I’m hoping he’ll be OK, but his injury was an unfortunate situation.”
After the injury and a punt, neither team scored points for a little while in the second quarter… that was until Williamsburg shocked the Indians’ defense with a 50-yard touchdown pass as time expired in the first half. The play saw Alex Ervin catch the pass in the back of the end zone with no time left on the clock for six points. The Indians had Burns block the PAT, keeping the Indians in the lead at 14-13 when halftime arrived.
On the first drive of the third quarter, the Wildcats took the lead with a second-and-goal play as Miller found Gries for a 10-yard touchdown pass, leaving 10:21 left in the third quarter. The two-point conversion attempt was good when Miller passed to Ervin, putting Williamsburg ahead, 21-14.
Hillsboro didn’t get down, but they battled back, as Barrett had a 50-yard rush on second-and-19, taking the ball from the Indians’ 19-yard line to the 31-yard line of Williamsburg. Next were gains of 11 and four yards by Dom Smart, putting the Indians at the 16-yard line.
On the ensuing second down play, Barrett was racing to the end zone for a touchdown as the Richards Memorial Field scoreboard read 7:30 left in the third. Turner’s PAT tied the score at 21.
Later in the third, Ross was scoring six points when he scored on second-and-goal from the 5-yard line with 3:11 still remaining in the quarter. Burns again made the PAT for a 28-21 HHS lead.
Williamsburg didn’t trail for long because four plays later, Miller found Bryce Little for a 51-yard touchdown through the air. The Wildcats took the one-point lead with a 2-point conversion pass from Miller to Jace Canter with 2:15 left in the third for a 29-28 advantage.
With 10:42 left in the fourth quarter, Hillsboro was back in the end zone with Ross rushing for a 36-yard touchdown run, his second of the game. HHS failed on the 2-point conversion run for a 34-29 lead.
The lead shifted back to Williamsburg with 5:15 left in regulation when Little passed to Ervin for a 5-yard touchdown reception. The 2-point attempt was incomplete, putting the Wildcats ahead by one-point at 35-34.
Offense was still going strong for HHS on the next drive when Barrett had gains of 38, 2 and 20 yards and a 5-yard scamper to the end zone with 3:29 left in the fourth quarter, as the Indians took a 41-35 lead.
The Wildcats tied the score with 2:20 left in regulation when Miller rushed for a 14-yard score on first down. The PAT was wide left, leaving the score tied at 41 points each.
As the fourth quarter continued, the Indians lost the ball on a pitch, and it was recovered by Little on the HHS 31-yard line. With time nearly expired, the Wildcats went for the game-winning field goal from around 20 yards out. The play saw WHS fumble the snap and be tackled to force overtime.
Hillsboro had possession first, and it took only one play for Barrett to race 20 yards for six points. Turner made the PAT for a 48-41 lead. Williamsburg then had their opportunity from the 20-yard line, and on first and second down, tackles by Ryan Mau and Ross led to a third-and-8 situation. Gary Reno came away with a sack on third down, resulting in a loss of nine yards, forcing a fourth-and-17 play. The pass was dropped close to the end zone, ending the game.
“Gary comes in at the end and makes a big sack, and that really put them behind and changed their play calling,” Horne said. “That really was the play at the end that put (Williamsburg) behind the 8-ball, and it was a great play.
“Gary has a motor that never stops. You can see that motor all the time, every play, and he gives you everything he’s got. He’s just a great kid.”
Next for Hillsboro (2-2) is a home non-conference game against the Clermont Northeastern Rockets (2-2) at Richards Memorial Field at 7 p.m. in Week 5 on Friday, Sept. 16. CNE lost in Week 4 by a score of 23-18 to Cincinnati Summit Country Day.
“This win is enormous, it really is. That’s the difference in a season,” Horne said of the win and big plays made by HHS on Friday night. “We can now push forward and push harder. We can get into better shape and work harder and get better from this win.
“This was a great all-around effort, the kids stuck it out and hung in there the whole time. I’m super proud of them, and it was a great game.”
GAME NOTES: Hillsboro’s Ryan Burns had a tackle for loss (2 yards) in the first quarter … Gary Reno made a sack for a 5-yard loss in the first quarter … Williamsburg had a TD run of 58 yards called back due to a chop block penalty … HHS freshman QB Preston Fauber completed his first pass in the second quarter for a 2-yard gain to Dom Smart … Ryan Burns had a tackle for loss on the first drive of the third quarter … Deegan Bloomfield had a TFL for 4 yards in the third quarter … Burns also had a TFL for 1 yard in the third … Mau had a sack for a 7-yard loss to end the third quarter.