Western Brown opens season with 49-6 win over HHS (updated)
By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press
The Western Brown offense opened the 2013 high school football season with a series of big plays en route to a convincing 49-6 win over the Hillsboro Indians at John Wayne Richards Memorial Field Friday night.
With 16 starters back from last year's 8-2 team, Coach Evan Dreyer's Broncos had a clear experience advantage over Matt Hodge's Indians.
Senior Broncos quarterback Devin Wood engineered a three-play, 59-yard scoring drive in the first period that culminated with a 13-yard scoring strike to Jarred Haggerty. Blake Silvis split the uprights on the point after, and it was a 7-0 game with 8:22 left in the quarter.
Avery Ventura returned the kickoff to the Hillsboro 25, where junior signal-caller Toby Warrington led the Indians' offense. Hillsboro gained five yards on a Warrington pass to Jordan Mosley.
Lane Hester then ran for two yards before being brought down by David Ellis. On third and three, Warrington found Mosley again for three yards and the Indians had their first first down of the new season.
The drive ended on the next series of downs and Mosley punted the football back to Broncos.
Starting at their own 27-yard line, the Broncos wasted no time. On second down, Wood connected with Christian Dawson for a 73-yard touchdown. The TD was called back due to a penalty, but that barely slowed Western Brown, and the play was still good for a 48-yard completion prior to the flag.
Woo passed to Chaz Patten for 13 yards on first down, then ran for eight more. Nick Osborned completed the drive with the Broncos' second touchdown in five minutes.
On its third possession of the quarter, Hillsboro picked up another first down on a six-yard completion from Warrington to Mosley, followed by a five-yard run by the quarterback. However, with a first and 10 at its own 37 and 2:06 remaining, Hillsboro was intercepted by Justin Longbottom at the Tribe 27.
Wood scrambled for 18 yards to set up a first and goal at the nine-yard line. For the second time in the quarter, Osborne found the end zone and Western Brown quickly owned a commanding 21-0 advantage.
The Broncos increased the margin to 28-0 at the 8:58 mark in the second period when Wood passed to Haggert for a fourth WB touchdown.
Hillsboro rallied for its lone touchdown on the ensuing possession.
After a Western Brown illegal procedure penalty on the kickoff, senior Matt Arnold returned the kick to the Hillsboro 45. After two running plays produced no positive yardage, Warrington connected with Arnold for seven yards. A pass on fourth and three to Arnold was good for 33 yards to the Broncos' 15.
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On first down, Hester bulled his way for six yards. After a Broncos' timeout, it was Hester again, this time gaining another six yards to set up a first and goal at the three. Arnold carried the ball to the 1/2-yard line and on second and goal, Warrington punched it into the end zone for Hillsboro's first TD of 2013.
The extra-point attempt was blocked, and Western Brown was on top, 28-6, with 4:16 to play in the half.
With the game clock winding down, the Broncos worked for another score. With 1:01 left, Wood hit Eean Hornung in stride right over the middle of the Hillsboro defense for a 35-yard touchdown. The PAT left the score 35-6 at halftime.
On the first play from scrimmage to start the second half, Wood raced 87 yards for an apparent Broncos' touchdown. A holding penalty, however, brought the play back.
Three plays later, the Western Brown no-huddle offense found pay dirt once more. Wood passed to Osborne for 25, to Hornung for 28 yards, and then found Patten for 43 yards and a touchdown, making it 42-6.
The Indians rallied on their next possession with a big play from Warrington to Ryan Hagan, a play-action pass that was good for 52 yards to the WB eight-yard line.
Hillsboro ran four plays trying to reach the end zone, but couldn't push it across.
The Broncos capped their dominating performance with a 98-yard scoring drive that took the final four minutes of the third period. The drive ended on a diving reception by Dawson in the southwest corner of the end zone.
With several underclassmen on the field, the Indians maintained possession of the football for the entire fourth period. While they were able to pick up positive yardage on rushed by Garrett Baldridge, Stanley Burns and Cody Whaley, the drive ended at the Broncos' 28-yard line as time expired.
The Indians (0-1) host Goshen on Friday, Sept. 6. The Broncos (1-0) have their first home game on Sept. 6 against Little Miami High School.
Score by quarters
WBHS – 21 14 14 00 — 49
HHS – 00 06 00 00 — 06