Miami Trace spoils HHS Homecoming with 42-0 win
By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press
The Miami Trace Panthers rebounded in strong fashion after last week's overtime loss to Chillicothe, as they spoiled the Hillsboro Indians' Homecoming with a 42-0 South Central Ohio League win Friday, Sept. 27 at Richards Memorial Field.
Senior quarterback Jimmy Stroker led the Panthers on two first-period scoring drives, and with a Marcel Pettiford punt return for another score, it was Miami Trace 21-0 after one quarter.
Trace scored first on a five-yard TD run by Jerimiah Jones. After the PAT by Blake Pittser, it was 7-0 at the 8:25 mark.
The Indians' first possession ended with a three-and-out and a sack of quarterback Toby Warrington near the goal line. On fourth and long, Jordan Mosley punted the ball from the back of the Hillsboro end zone. Pettiford caught the ball at the Hillsboro 38 and raced into the end zone for the second Panthers' touchdown in less than two minutes.
Hillsboro fumbled on its next possession, and Miami Trace recovered at the Tribe 35.
R.J. Collard stopped Richard Massropian for a two-yard loss on first down. But a pass from Stroker to Cedric Pettiford was good for a 20-yard gain. Three plays later, Trevor Haines got the call from a yard out and scored the third Panthers' TD of the quarter.
Hillsboro began the second quarter with a big fourth-down pickup by Warrington and Hillsboro's first first down of the game that wasn't courtesy of a Panthers' penalty.
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On the next play, Lane Hester added another five yards and moved the ball into Trace territory. A third down pass interference penalty against the Panthers gave Hillsboro a first-and-10 at the Trace 30.
The Indians then lost six yards on first down on a busted play. After no gain on second down, Hester ran for four yards on third and long. On fourth down, Warrington's pass to Matt Arnold was tipped near the goal line, then intercepted by Haines. Haines returned it to the 20 and the Hillsboro drive was stopped by the Panthers' defense.
Haines scored his second touchdown on a six-yard run with 4:09 left in the half. Again, Pittser split the uprights with the point after.
With time running out in the half, Massropian scrambled 40 yards for the fifth Miami Trace TD of the half, and Hillsboro went to the locker room down by a 35-0 score.
Midway through the third period, Austin Dyer added the final score of the night with a four-yard touchdown run.
Hillsboro (1-4) hosts Clinton Massie (4-1) on Friday, Oct. 4. Massie lost to Columbus DeSales, 21-16, on Sept. 27.
Score by quarters
MTHS 21 14 07 00 – 42
HHS 00 00 00 00 – 00