Derrick Webb, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
CHILLICOTHE — Surrounded by his team late Friday night, Hillsboro coach Nathan Horne let out a sigh of relief, followed by a humongous smile.
His Indians had just handed Chillicothe a 23-17 loss in an overtime thriller, marking the program’s first win over the Cavaliers this side of the 21st century.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
After once leading 17-7, Hillsboro allowed Chillicothe to get back into the ballgame with 10 straight points. But with the choice to suffer a back-breaking loss or earn a — potentially — season-defining win, the Indians chose the latter.
“It’s big. Whenever you can practice following a win the next week, it makes practice that much better,” Horne said. “These kids have handled adversity well over the last few years where I’ve been their head coach. I’m just super proud of them.”
Leading the group was, once again, backfield partners Austin Barrett and Jeven Hochstuhl.
The duo combined for 263 yards on the ground and a pair of touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime.
“We lean on our running game,” Horne said. “That’s what we do. We run that triple option and Austin, a senior, he’s a great kid and a hard worker. Jeven is our counter back and he’s shifty. Then you’ve got Mason [Shumpert] as our quarterback, who we converted from a halfback last year. They’re learning and they’re getting better every day. I’m excited for them.”
Tale of the tape
After a scoreless first quarter that was riddled with defensive stands and turnovers, Hillsboro (3-3, 1-0 FAC) finally graced the scoreboard with 7:26 left in the second.
After completing a 47-yard pass to Nic Burns, Dumpert found the goal line from nine yards out to make it 7-0.
Just over three minutes later, the Indians played add-on with a 55-yard scoring drive that ended with a 20-yard touchdown rush from Hochstuhl, extending the lead to 14-0.
Chillicothe (1-5, 0-1 FAC) provided an answer.
With 3:07 left in the first half, quarterback Juan Miller captained a lengthy scoring drive — keyed by a 20-plus yard pass to Coen Butler — before scoring on a 14-yard run, cutting the deficit in half.
PHOTOS: Images from Hillsboro’s win over Chillicothe
On the next possession, the Cavaliers got a big defensive stop but then mishandled the punt, allowing the Indians to pounce on a fumble at Chillicothe’s 29-yard line. Then, with 15 seconds left, Wes Bailey made it a 17-7 tally, nailing all of a 41-yard field goal attempt.
“We had a couple of big drives in the first half,” Horne said. “We also had a couple of sputters. Chillicothe had a good defensive plan for us. Our defense played lights out all game long and when we needed to punch the ball in, we did that. It’s just a good win for us.”
Early in the third, Barrett ripped off a 70-yard run to Chillicothe’s 12-yard line. But Hillsboro’s offense was unable to capitalize, handing the football to the Cavaliers deep in their own territory.
Miller took matters into his own hands from there.
The junior called his own number, scampering 53 yards into Hillsboro territory. That set up a 26-yard field goal from Decon Crawford to cut Hillsboro’s lead to 17-10.
The game’s next, and regulation’s final, score came with 10:08 remaining. After getting a stop defensively, Miller ended an 11-play, 70-yard drive with a one-yard plunge into the end zone.
That set up a 17-17 score heading into OT, and also led to pandemonium.
Chillicothe’s offense, who received the ball to start the extra period, stalled and settled for a field goal try. But the Indians got their paws on the kick, allowing Hochstuhl to pick it up and run it back for a touchdown — or so he thought.
Because the kick never passed the line of scrimmage, the play was whistled dead, wiping the score off the board.
Barrett, however, had no problem finishing what Hochstuhl started.
After picking up a first down, the Indians’ senior back scored from five yards out to seal the win.
“Earlier in the game, I saw something on a PAT where I felt like I could [block] it,” Hochstuhl said. “So I decided to go real hard and get it. We got the ball back and fed our best running back in [Barrett]. He got in that end zone.”
Stat book
Barrett led Hillsboro statistically with 22 rushes for 186 yards and a score while Hochstuhl added 12 carries for 77 yards and a touchdown. Dumpert followed with 12 attempts for 65 yards and a touchdown while finishing 2-of-6 passing for 60 yards.
Chillicothe was paced by Miller, who carried the football 22 times for 116 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He was also 6-of-14 through the air for 43 yards. Oscar Morgan also helped out, rushing 22 times for 123 yards.
In total, the Indians’ offense racked up 388 yards compared to Chillicothe’s 280.
What’s on tap
Both teams are back in conference action next week.
The Cavaliers will continue to search for their first league win at home, hosting McClain. Meanwhile, Hillsboro will face a stiff test, hosting Washington.
“We have to establish the dive,” Barrett said. “If we don’t establish the dive, we don’t have much. But when we establish that dive, that’s when [Hochstuhl] gets those big runs. And [big runs] are what get us big dubs.”
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