By ALEXANDER SIMONE

Staff writer

Hillsboro football got back on track this past week, securing a 23-17 homecoming win in overtime against Sterling.

The Trojans gave up an early score to Sterling thanks to a turnover on the game’s opening drive. The home team responded by holding the Black scoreless most of the game, eventually surrendering 10 points in the fourth quarter.

It was an example of a gritty win for the Trojans. Midway through the first quarter quarterback Matthew Potucek scrambled deep in the red zone. After running out of the pocket he jumped a fallen Sterling player then dragged multiple defenders for another few yards before being tackled. He didn’t score on the play but his determined offense helped set up a field goal for Hillsboro.

Potucek converted several important plays, including a touchdown on each side of the ball. He scored first with a 41-yard scamper in the opening quarter, and later returned a fumble 36 yards for a defensive score in the second quarter.

Marion can’t sustain early success

Marion found early success moving the ball on offense Friday at Haven, converting a Haven fumble into a seven-play drive. The Warriors weren’t able to turn it into points, however, since a Seth Lanning pass was tipped and intercepted from deep on Haven’s side of the field.

Lanning and running back Nathan Hoffner both were knocked out of the game midway through the first half.

Marion responded with an inspired effort, with Will Alleven throwing a long touchdown to Braedon Mercer the next drive. That tied the score 6-6 since both teams missed two-point conversions, but it was all Haven from then on.

The Wildcats added two touchdowns and tacked on two-point conversions each time, raising the tally to 22-6 by halftime.

In spite of being significantly smaller on offensive and defensive line, Marion had its moments, getting in the backfield or taking advantage of several Haven penalties.

Haven got right back to it after the half though, scoring 24 points to reach the final score of 46-6 all in the third quarter.

Peabody-Burns wins No. 2

The Warriors are on a winning streak after securing a second-straight victory Friday over Tescott.

This game was much less of a nail biter for Peabody-Burns, allowing just one score in a 54-6 blowout. The game was called at halftime according to eight-man football’s 45-point rule.

After scoring no points in their first two games, the Warriors scored 114 total points in their last two games, both wins.

In pulling its record up to .500, the team already has matched its win total from last season.

Goessel can’t hold halftime lead

The Bluebirds’ home game last week against Argonia-Attica started with Goessel’s defense firing on all cylinders.

The Bluebirds held the visitors out of the end zone the first quarter, and Goessel’s Grant Bryant broke the ice with a 44-yard touchdown pass to Nate Zogleman.

The Titans scored in the second quarter, but the Bluebirds led 8-6 at halftime.

It was all about the Titans the second half, as they scored three times before Goessel scored again. The Bluebirds struck with a 38-yard touchdown pass, but Argonia-Attica then scored twice in the fourth quarter to win 42-14.

Caleb Burkholder led the defense with 9.5 tackles and an interception.

Centre held scoreless
in homecoming loss

Moving homecoming ahead a week and then winning at home sounds like a fairytale ending, and it surely would have been a dream come true for Centre Friday.

Instead, the Cougars suffered through a 26-0 loss to Rural Vista, though the improvement in how many points they allowed could have been a positive take away.

The Cougars trailed 20-0 at halftime but allowed only one more touchdown the rest of the game, which came in the third quarter.

Lane Methvin and Quinten Bina were leading tacklers, and Bina led rushing with 21 carries for 86 yards.

Contributions to this story were made by Delbert Peters and Rowena Plett.