Indians battle Goshen, before falling, 25-12
By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press
A much more physical Hillsboro Indians football team showed up Friday night as the Tribe hosted the Goshen Warriors from Clermont County.
After losing their season-opener to an explosive Western Brown team, Hillsboro battled the Warriors for four quarters Friday, before falling, 25-12, in a flag-filled contest.
"We showed a lot of improvement, but we're still making youthful mistakes," HHS first-year head coach Matt Hodge said. "The effort was there tonight."
The Indians fell behind, 12-0, after two first-quarter touchdowns by Scotty Nichols. The senior Goshen running back scored from six yards out with 10:24 on the clock. Then, on a fourth-and-six from the Hillsboro eight-yard line, Issac Hart called Nichols' number again. Nichols responded with an eight-yard TD run on a sweep to the right side. The PATs failed on both touchdowns.
Junior Cody Whaley carried much of the load for the Indians' offense in the first quarter.
On the Tribe's first possession, Whaley picked up five yards and one yard on first and second down, respectively. On third-and-four at their own 19, the Indians picked up at apparent first down on a lateral pass. However, an inadvertent whistle was blown from the far sideline and the first down was negated. Two plays later, a bad snap on fourth down left Goshen with excellent field position for its second TD of the quarter.
Hillsboro moved the ball again on its next possession, with the big play coming on a 14-yard pass from Warrington to Jordan Mosley. Warrington followed that with a nine-yard run from scrimmage, then Whaley and Jed Asmus picked up positive yardage.
After a personal foul on the Warriors, Hillsboro had a first down at the Goshen 18. Lane Hester carried for nine yards on three plays. On fourth-and-one at the Goshen nine-yard line, the Indians were penalized for delay of game. One play later, the Indians fumbled and Pierce Elmore pounced on the pigskin for Goshen.
The Indians defense rose to the challenge, though, and forced a Warriors' punt.
On the ensuing possession, Whaley picked up 21 yards on two carries, giving Hillsboro a first down at the Goshen 15. Hester and Asmus moved the ball to the 9, and on a fourth-down pass, Warrington for Mosley for a Hillsboro touchdown.
Late in the first half, Warrington threw his second TD pass of the quarter, this time connecting with senior captain Matt Arnold.
The first half ended with Hillsboro very much in the game, trailing the Warriors, 18-12.
Neither team scored in the third period, but Hillsboro controlled the time of possession.
With Whaley sidelined with a rib injury, Hester picked up the offense. Unofficially, the sophomore running back carried nine times for 45 yards in the third quarter alone.
"Lane works really hard and he's only a sophomore," Hodge said. "He had a good week of practice."
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Midway through the third period, the two teams were flagged for offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties as Mosley and Hunter Hines were temporarily involved in some extracurricular activities.
Goshen pulled ahead in the fourth quarter on an eight-yard TD pass from Hart to Nichols at the 4:52 mark. The point after made it 25-12.
Hodge said he was pleased with the Indians' improvement, especially the play of the offensive line, but added, "We play the game to win."
Mark Slagle's Warriors (1-1) host Bethel-Tate on Sept. 13. The Indians (0-2) travel to Wilmington on Friday, Sept. 13.
Score by quarters
GHS – 12 06 00 07 — 25
HHS – 00 12 00 00 — 12
Notes/Asides
• Sophomore Ryan Hagan intercepted an Issac Hart pass at the Hillsboro two-yard line to stop a Goshen drive in the fourth quarter.
• Sophomore Lane Hester tackled Goshen senior Jake Nelson for a six-yard loss in the first quarter.
• Junior Toby Warrington intercepted a Hart pass in the second quarter.
• After several penalties, officials called each team's captain to a fourth-quarter conference, warning players about hits after the play was whistled dead.
• HHS fans wished longtime sports broadcaster Ernie Blankenship a very happy birthday prior to the opening kickoff. Mr. Blankenship's birthday is this Sunday, Sept. 8.