Hillsboro defeats Remington, sets up showdown for district runner-up

HHSfbRemingtonRatzlaff050WEB    The Hillsboro football team put itself into position to advance to the state playoffs with a 41-12 win at Remington in the second round of district play Friday.

The win improves Hillsboro?s district record to 1-1 and its season mark to 4-4 while Remington dropped to 0-2 and 3-5.

Hillsboro got on the scoreboard first with a one-yard quarterback sneak by Luke Moore with 8:45 left in the first quarter. Tyler Proffitt, stepping for injured kicker Jesse Brown, booted the extra point for a 7-0 lead. The touchdown was set up by a Christian Ratzlaff punt return that gave HHS possession at the Bronco 24.

Hillsboro got great field possession at the Remington 32-yard line after the Broncos? punter shanked a punt for a seven-yard gain. Six plays later, Moore connected on a pass to Aaron Klassen, who then lateraled to Evan Ollenburger. The sophomore then ran past confused defenders to complete the 29-yard scoring play. Proffitt missed the extra point, but Hillsboro led 13-0 with 5:16 left in the first period.

Remington responded with a score on its next possession, completing a 62-yard drive in nine plays with Luke Igo scoring from three yards out and with 1:04 left in the quarter. His 2-point conversion run was unsuccessful.

After a change of possession, Shaq Thiessen short-circuited a Remington drive near the end of the second quarter when he intercepted a Regier pass at the Trojan 1-yard line and returned the ball to the Hillsboro 22.

The Trojans lost possession on a fumble four plays later, giving the Broncos the ball at the Trojan 30 with 1:56 left in the half. But Hillsboro?s defense forced a turnover on downs to regain possession with 1:13 left at the Trojan 31.

Facing third-and-six five plays into the drive, Moore connected on a 26-yard pass to Devin Dick along the Remington sideline for a first down at the Bronco 20. After a motion penalty pushed HHS back five yards, Moore launched a pass into the end zone that Shaq Thiessen pulled in for the score with only 7.3 second left in the half. Proffitt?s kick gave Hillsboro a 20-7 lead heading into intermission.

At the start of the third quarter, Hillsboro finally stopped a Remington drive that had started at the Bronco 30 and reached the Trojan 35. Hillsboro then drove 65 yards in 11 plays — highlighted by a beautiful layout catch of a Moore pass by Derek Kelsey for a 26-yard gain on third-and-22. The pass gave HHS a first down at the Bronco 17. After Tyrell Thiessen ran for three yards, Moore bounced off right tackle for the final 14 yards and a score. Proffitt?s kick was blocked, but the Trojans led comfortably, 26-6,with 2:36 left in the third period.

When Regier fumbled on Remington?s next play from scrimmage, Moore picked up the ball and advanced it nine yards to the Bronco 8-yard line. Moore then ran six yards to the 2-yard line, and Tyrell Thiessen bulled his way into the end zone from there. Holder Evan Ollenburger then took the extra-point snap and skirted the left side for the 2-point conversion and a 34-6 margin with 1:40 left in the period.

The Trojans? bend-but-don?t-break defense stopped another Remington drive on the next possession, this time at the Trojan 12. On Hillsboro?s first play from scrimmage, Moore darted off right tackle and ran 88 yards down the Trojan sideline for one last score. Proffitt?s kick made it 41-6 with 10:22 left in the game, and engaged the continuous-clock rule for the rest of the contest.

Remington mounted one last drive, with Regier scoring at the 3:14 mark. His 2-point pass fell incomplete for the final 41-12 margin.

Friday?s win, coupled with Marion?s 34-21 loss to Southeast of Saline, sets up another season-ending showdown between the Warriors and Hillsboro Trojans to see who will advance to the state playoffs as the district runner-up. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Thursday in Marion.

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