Vikings outlast Trojans, 36-16
Staff writer
Unproductive offensive series in the first half continued to be the theme for Hillsboro as the Trojans dropped their third game in a row Friday, a 36-16 loss to Smoky Valley at Sterling.
While the Vikings did not score until late in the first quarter on a 4-yard keeper by quarterback Brett Heischmidt, the feel was quite similar to last week’s Hoisington game.
The Trojans went four and out on their initial possession. Then the Vikings drove more than 60 yards in 11 plays, capped off by the aforementioned quarterback keeper to put Smoky Valley up 7-0 at the 5-minute mark of the first quarter.
Smoky Valley scored twice in the second quarter on a 22-yard run by Kyle Anderson and a 2-yard touchdown run on fourth down by Kaj Sjorgen, making the score 21-0 late in the second quarter.
The Trojans showed some life before halftime when Carson Herbel recovered his own punt, muffed by the Vikings’ returner. With just 12 yards between Hillsboro and paydirt, Trojans quarterback Kaden Kleiner made the Vikings pay on the next play when he hit wide receiver Jacob Funk for 6 points. After a 2-point conversion by Elliot Ollenburger, the Trojans took the score to 21-8.
The Vikings scored once more to lead 29-8 at halftime.
The Vikings controlled the ball and clock for most of the second half, inlcuding a 16-play drive in the third quarter that the Trojans stopped on their own 17.
Kleiner then completed the next 6 passes in a row to move the Trojans the other way to the Vikings’ 15-yard line.
However, the Vikings recovered a Kleiner fumble and marched 85 yards in 14 plays, culminating in a 3-yard touchdown run.
Hillsboro scored once again with a 66-yard, 3-play drive highlighted by a 27-yard pass to Herbel and a 37-yard touchdown pass to Funk that pointed more towards potential than it did a threat in the game.
The 36-16 loss dropped Hillsboro to 1-3 with Halstead coming up this weekend.
Last modified Sept. 28, 2016