Lion tamers

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN DON RATZLAFF
Needing to make their case for being a strong contender going into district play, Hillsboro scored a few points for the jury but fortunately the defense never rested in a 13-0 shutout of Lyons Friday night at Reimer Field.



The Trojan offense managed two touchdowns in the second quarter, and the defense made it stand up as Hillsboro moved to 4-2 on the season.



“We needed to play good defense,” said coach Dustin McEwen. “Our offense scored a couple, and I thought maybe the flood gates were ready to come open and we’d keep scoring. But they’ve got a good defense as well.”



The Trojans finally broke the ice early in the second quarter when quarterback Ronn Coates, capping a 10-play, 55-yard drive, found Dan Funk in the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown. Sheldon Funk added the extra point for a 7-0 Trojan lead.



After the Trojan defense stopped Lyons on four plays on their next possession, the offense began what turned out to be a 12-play, 76-yard march for their second score.



The big play of the drive was Dan Funk’s diving catch of a Coates pass that gave the Trojans a 34-yard gain and a first down at the Lions’ 6-yard line.



On the next play, junior Ross Duerksen ran the ball in to give Hillsboro its 13-0 lead with 3:33 left in the half. Sheldon Funk’s extra point attempt was blocked following a high snap from center.



Lyons couldn’t cash in on their only serious scoring threat of the game early in the fourth quarter. On their first play of the drive, Lion quarterback Elijah Rummler scrambled from his own 30-yard line and raced all the way to the Trojan 9-yard line before he was caught from behind by Hillsboro corner back Ryan Jilka.



But the Trojan defense, aided on one play by a fumbled pitch out, stopped Lyons in their tracks, with Adam Woods making the tackle on Rummler on a fourth-and-12.



Dan Funk proved to be Hillsboro’s most effective offensive weapon, catching four passes for 80 yards. Coates finished with 104 yards through the air, completing 6-of-17 with one interception.



Ross Duerksen was the Trojans’ leading rusher with 50 yards on 11 carries. As a team, Hillsboro managed 115 yards on 38 carries.



Lyons finished with 142 yards total offense, 125 of which came on the ground.



“We were pleased to get back in the win column,” McEwen said. “We got a much more enthusiastic effort from our players tonight. That’s what we’re going to need going into districts.”



Hillsboro will open district play on Friday with a home game against Herington (1-5). Game time is 7 p.m. The other district matchup features Marion (4-2) and undefeated Hesston (6-0).

More from article archives
HOME: New options, trends attract homeowners
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BY DON RATZLAFF New products and changing trends continue to...
Read More