Hillsboro got three touchdown passes from quarterback Luke Moore in the first half, and that proved to be just enough offense for the Trojans to post a 21-13 win at Kingman Friday night.
Hillsboro appeared to be on its way to a comfortable victory as the offense moved the ball almost at will in the early going. The Trojans took the opening kickoff and marched 71 yards in seven plays, capped by a 23-yard scoring pass from Moore to Ben Bebermeyer at the 9:42 mark of the first period. Ben Gardner nailed the extra-point kick for the early 7-0 lead.
Later in the quarter, with Hillsboro facing third-and-9 at its own 19, Moore threw a pass right into the hands of Kingman?s Sam Keeny, who returned the ball to the Trojan 5. It was Moore first interception of the season. Three plays later, Shawn Chalakee scored from two yards out. The Trojans blocked Blake Bergkamp?s kick to keep the score at 7-6 with 4:24 left in the quarter.
But the Trojans bounced right back from the blow. Bebermeyer returned the ensuing kickoff to the Trojan 37, then Chance Reece dashed 38 yards off left tackle on the first play from scrimmage. On the next snap, Moore capped the drive with a pass down the middle to tight end Aaron Klassen for the final 25 yards and the score. Gardner?s kick was good as gold and Hillsboro led 14-6 with 3:52 still to play in the first period.
In the second quarter, the Trojans pieced together their third scoring drive, a 67-yard journey that started with runs of 8 and 40 yards by Reece and ended with a 16-yard pass from Moore to Bebermeyer on the sixth play of the possession at the 5:55 mark. Gardner nailed another PAT for Hillsboro?s 21-6 halftime lead.
The Trojans came out of halftime apparently fired up and possessing momentum. But Stephen Gutierrez returned the kickoff 36 yards to the Kingman 43-yard line. Five plays later, Bryan Suenram took an option pitch around the right side and scampered 49 yards for a touchdown.
Bergkamp?s kick made it 21-13 barely two minutes into the third quarter.
The quick strike seemed to shake the Trojans? confidence, as they struggled to put together a sustained drive. On at least three occasions, drives that seemed to be gaining momentum were short-circuited by critical penalties.
To its credit, the defense shut down the Eagles the rest of the way to preserve the victory, which improved Hillsboro?s season record to 2-3 while Kingman slipped to 1-4 on their homecoming night.
