Sometimes it?s better to leave a sleeping bear alone.
The Hillsboro football team poked undefeated Hesston in the eye by scoring the first touchdown of the game, but the mighty Swathers scored at a ferocious pace from that point on to claim a 56-14 win in the opening night of district play at Hesston.
After the Trojans started the game with a three-and-out, Justus Hilliard intercepted a Grant Raleigh pass on the second play of the Swathers? first possession. The Trojans then drove from their own 39-yard line to Hesston?s 28 in five plays and a pass-interference penalty. From there, quarterback Hilliard ran off right tackle the remaining distance for the score at the 8:13 mark. Jeff Jorgenson?s kick made it 7-0.
Hesston responded with intensity, scoring five times in the first quarter — including three touchdowns over a span of 2 minutes — for a 35-7 lead. By halftime the margin grew to 49-7.
The entire second half was played with a running clock. Even so, Hesston scored on the third play from scrimmage to push the margin to 56-7. With the Swather JV taking over from there, Hillsboro scored the final points of the game on a 55-yard drive — including a 41-yard run to the Hesston 10-yard line by Hilliard. One incomplete pass later, Hilliard swept the left end for the touchdown.
The loss dropped the Trojans to 2-5 for the season and 0-1 in district play while Hesston remained perfect at 7-0. Hillsboro will host Southeast of Saline next Friday in the second round of district play.