Swathers give Trojans first district loss
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
Losing to a team like the Hesston Swathers is not necessarily a step backward for the Hillsboro High School football team.
Trojan coach Len Coryea is no prophet, but he shouldn't have many disagreeing with him by saying the Swathers are a team worthy of challenging Garden Plain for a 3A state title-game appearance.
Third-ranked Hesston has it all: a punishing ground game, a stout defense that creates takeaways, a big physical line, and surprisingly, a passing game, as well.
All were evident Friday night in Hillsboro as the Swathers (8-0) broke open a 14-7 game in the second half, handing the Trojans (4-4) their first loss in district play, 35-22.
Despite the loss, Hillsboro's second run at the post-season in as many years, still hangs in the balance, while the Swathers clinched the district title.
"They're just big," Coryea said. "They saddle up and come at you, but I thought we played as hard as we could play."
The Swathers' size made it difficult for the smaller Trojans to find the ball — a key in Hesston piling up 252 yards rushing — something the Trojans struggled to do.
A team that flourishes running the ball, it was the Hesston passing game that left the Trojans in a deep hole.
Quarterback Michael Janzen went long for Lee Voth-Gaeddert for a 40-yard score, and fired a 22-yarder to John Reimer to leave the Trojans in a 14-0 funk after the first quarter.
While the Swathers don't have one running back who puts up huge numbers running the ball such as a Hillsboro's Jake Yoder or Spencer Brown, Hesston has a slew of threats in the backfield.
Seven backs carried, paced by Michael Petrocci's 88 yards, followed by Brett Leichty's 84, with Hesston getting its other three scores off the run.
The Trojans did not back down from the intimidating Swathers, forcing four turnovers that kept Hillsboro in the game the first half.
Ishmael Morris led the sputtering Hillsboro ground game, carrying the ball 11 times for 51 yards and two touchdowns. His first cut the deficit in half with 28 seconds left in the first half with a seven-yard run.
The Swathers were able to neutralize Hilllsboro's ground game to just 84 yards rushing, while holding leading-rusher Yoder to a season-low 33 yards on 17 carries.
Much like the Smoky Valley Vikings proved against Hillsboro, the Trojans have a tendency for kickback when they can't establish a running game.
Brown had to do his magic through the air, completing 10-of-16 for a season-high 253 yards with wide receiver Daniel Jost having a career-night.
Jost also was a nuisance on defense, intercepting two passes, and he hauled in five catches, including one for 59 yards, on his way to 142 yards.
The game came unraveled in the third quarter with Hesston reeling off a pair of unanswered touchdowns to put the game away heading into the fourth quarter, 28-7.
Morris struck again from six yards to cut the lead in half again in the opening minutes of the last frame.
With time winding down, Brown finally found the end zone, breaking in from a yard for the score.
"The fact that we got back and scored
Hillsboro faces a must-win game to close out the regular season at 7 p.m. Thursday, playing host to the 7-1 Remington Broncos.
RHS eliminated the Marion Warriors in convincing fashion, 36-12, behind 360 yards passing from standout quarterback Cole Cherryholmes.
"They'll throw the daylights out of us," Coryea said. "He's (Cherryholmes) probably the best quarterback we'll see all season.
"If we can run the ball, score, and eat the clock, and not allow them to catch the long balls, they can do short ones, but I think we'll be OK."
