JV beats Nickerson
The junior varsity Trojan football team defeated Nickerson Tuesday, 31-12.
Nickerson scored first, returning the opening kick-off for six points. Hillsboro countered with two touchdowns. Freshman Jesse Boucher scored on a 45-yard run and sophomore Troy Frick scored on a 26-yard pass from junior Kyle Kroeker. The PAT attempts were no good.
Frick scored again in the second quarter on a 26-yard pass from Kroeker. Grant Schneider scored on a 10-yard pass from Kroeker. The PATs were no good.
In the third quarter, freshman Jacob Yoder scored on a three-yard run, and Tyler Kaufman's point-after kick was good.
The Panthers scored on a 28-yard run in the final quarter.
Kroeker was 10-17-223 for the night including three touchdowns. He threw for 178 yards in the first half, connecting with five different receivers.
Matt Brown had three catches for 122 yards; Frick, 4-88; Schneider, 2-20; and Boucher, 2-13.
"The offense was outstanding tonight," said coach Darrel Knoll. "Kroeker made great reads. We also were able to move the ball well on the ground."
In rushing, Yoder was 15-33; Adam Dirks, 6-34; Boucher, 2-55; Matt Brown, 2-2; Dustin Strunk, 2-17.
Defensively, Josh Kenney had two tackles, five assists; Yoder, two tackles, three assists; Daniel Roble, eight assists; and Dirks, one tackle, seven assists.
"The boys put together a solid defensive performance," said coach Scott O'Hare. "They pretty well stopped Nickerson. The boys tackled much better and played very aggressively."
The junior varsity will play Hesston at home on Monday and will end its season Oct. 25 at Marion. Game time is 6 p.m.
