Indians rally with 13 fourth-quarter points for 35-34 win

     MOUNT ORAB - Hillsboro Indians head coach Brian Spicer told his team at halftime their season-opening game at Western Brown might come down to the last play.

     It did.

     In a game that saw more momentum shifts than the 1975 World Series, the Indians held on for a 35-34 non-conference victory against the Broncos. The two teams have managed to score over 140 points in their last two meetings, as Hillsboro won last year's game 41-32.

     Western Brown cruised to a 14-0 first quarter lead. Kendal Klinginsmith scored the game's first touchdown on a fumble recovery when Hillsboro tried to punt deep in its own territory. A two-point conversion by Tim Cecil put Western Brown on top, 8-0, with 6:36 to play in the first quarter.

     Four minutes later, quarterback Matt Corcoran plunged in from one yard out to give Western Brown at 14-0 lead. Hillsboro's Chase Gilliland tackled Gunner Woodyard to prevent the 2-point conversion.

     Hillsboro quarterback Aric Carroll scored the Indians' first points at the 8:43 mark of the second quarter. The extra point attempt by Bodhi Hawkins was wide right.

     Western Brown came right back two minutes later when Corcoran tossed a nine-yard touchdown pass to Nick Woodyard. The two-point conversion failed, leaving the Broncos up 20-6.

     On the ensuing kickoff, Hillsboro senior Mason Hunick scampered 80 yards down the Hillsboro sideline for a touchdown. Carroll converted the two-point conversion, running behind his left tackle and guard to pull Hillsboro to within 20-14.

     At the 3:28 mark of the second quarter, Hawkins rumbled for 66 yards and another Hillsboro scoring strike. Kordell Ford converted the two-point conversion to give Hillsboro its first lead at 22-20.

     The lead proved to be short-lived, however, as Corcoran connected again with Nick Woodyard from nine yards out. Corcoran's pass to Jake Banfil completed the two-point conversion, putting Western Brown back on top, 28-22.

     "I told the kids at halftime this was going to be a dogfight," Spicer said. "I told them at halftime this could come down to the last play of the game. I didn't mean it literally."

     Spicer's words, however, would prove to be prophetic. In the third quarter, Western Brown increased its lead to 12 when Banfil caught a pass from Nick Woodyard. Again, Western Brown went for two following the touchdown; this time, Gunnar Woodyard was stopped short by Kyler White of Hillsboro.

     On their next possession, Hillsboro moved the ball into Western Brown territory on two pass plays from Carroll to Gilliland. The second pass to Gilliland of the possession, an over-the-middle pass, resulted in an injury to Gilliland. He held on to the ball and gave the Hillsboro Indians a first down at the Western Brown 22 and was able to walk off under his own power.

     On a first-and-10 running play, Hunick fumbled after a shot in the ribs, and Gunner Patton recovered for Western Brown. Hillsboro's defense rose to the challenge when senior Britt Wells recovered a Broncos fumble at the Western Brown 33. Hillsboro moved the ball on a five-yard gain by Matt Gallimore and a pass from Carroll to Christian Wildey that was good for 19 yards to the Western Brown 15. After a penalty for a false start and an incomplete pass, Carroll was tackled for no gain, leaving Hillsboro at fourth-and-15. On fourth down, Carroll passed to Gilliland and picked up five yards, but Western Brown took over on downs.

     Led by Gallimore, Chris Stapleton, and a host of Indians, the Tribe defense quickly shut down Western Brown and forced a punt to end the third quarter. Still, the Broncos maintained a 34-22 advantage.

     The fourth quarter would belong to Hillsboro.

     With 11:53 left on the clock, Carroll fired a 34-yard strike to Dow Kiefer for a touchdown. The conversion attempt was no good, but Hillsboro had climbed back in it, 34-28.

     After an onside kick by Hawkins that was recovered by Western Brown's Michael Latoof, the Bronco offense began at its own 35. Hillsboro's defense would bend, but it would not break. Tackles by Kiefer, Stapleton, Gallimore, Robert Shrout, and Kaleb Wisebaker slowed the Western Brown spread formation.

     With less than 11 minutes remaining in the game, Hunick delivered a crunching sideline blow, setting up a third-and-long. Quarterback Caden Piatt was then sacked for a 20-yard loss by Gallimore and Stapleton. 

     The two teams exchanged punts, until Hillsboro regained possession with 5:21 on the game clock. Beginning at their own 40-yard line, Hillsboro went on a 60-yard scoring drive, which culminated in a touchdown pass from Carroll to Ford with 14 seconds remaining. Hawkins split the uprights on the point after, giving Hillsboro a 35-34 lead.

     Western Brown was not finished, however.

     With Corcoran back at quarterback, a long pass set up a first-and-10 deep in Hillsboro territory. Corcoran had one final play with five seconds left and launched a pass toward the goal line. Wells stepped in front of the receiver and intercepted Corcoran's pass, sealing the Hillsboro Indians' first victory of the 2010 season.

     "Did we play well?" Spicer asked. "No, we didn't. We persevered. This was a battle of attrition."

     Due to several injuries, the Indians had occasional personnel issues, Spicer said. In fact, the Indians were out of timeouts on their game-winning scoring drive, after having called a timeout to begin the fourth quarter. It should be pointed out, however, on the first play after the timeout, Carroll connected with Kiefer for a 34-yard touchdown.

     "We ran out of timeouts mainly because of the injuries and the personnel matchups," Spicer said.

     Hillsboro, now 9-2 under Coach Spicer, had a solid ground game from Carroll, Gallimore, and Wildey. Gilliland turned in a fine overall game, playing on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

     Hillsboro (1-0) will be at Gallia Academy on Sept. 3.

SCORE BY QUARTERS
HHS  -  00  22  00  13  - 35

WB  -  14  14  06  00  - 34