Hillsdale dominates Symmes Valley, advances to regional final
By: Eli Baxter
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JEROMESVILLE, Ohio (WOUB) — The Symmes Valley Vikings traveled over 150 miles to Hillsdale High School to face the Falcons in the Region 27 Semi-Finals. Hillsdale took an early lead and never looked back as they sent the Vikings back home after a 48-7 victory.
The Falcons set the tone from the first kick as they got a quick stop on defense. Hillsdale forced a turnover on downs on their own 41-yard line after a pass play that saw Levi Russell go for 31 yards for the Vikings. On the opposite side of the ball, Owen Sloan took it 59 yards to the house for his first of many touchdowns in the game. With multiple flags thrown before the PAT, Hillsdale would go up 7-0.
This trend of dominant defense and offense would continue for the remainder of the half. Just a drive later for the Falcons, Sloan muscled his way into the end zone for the three-yard score. By the end of the first quarter, Hillsdale found themselves a 14-point lead, but Symmes Valley wasn’t going to give up their season that easily.
The Vikings would be able to get the ball moving in the air with short check down passes to start the second quarter. Though, once they tried to take deeper shots down the field, they found themselves in trouble. Just a few plays after they crossed midfield, Brock Bower picked off Bronx Carpenter for the first turnover of the game. This would turn in to yet another Sloan touchdown. This time from 29 yards out for his third of the night so far. With a missed extra point, the Falcons led 20-0.
On the next drive, Carpenter would throw into coverage again. This time the interception would be credited to Porter Boreman. Once more, Hillsdale reached the end zone and put seven more points on the scoreboard. Bower, who got it done on defense earlier, would get a touchdown himself.
Before the end of the half, Hillsdale would force another turnover, this time a fumble, and get into the end zone. Sloan would get his fourth touchdown of the half. This time he would push his way through the defenders for a one-yard touchdown. At the break, Symmes Valley had a deep 34-0 hole they had to climb out if they wanted to continue their season.
After the break, Sloan would take 29 yards for his last touchdown of the evening and increase the Falcons’ lead to 41-0. Sloan would tally over 200 yards on the ground in addition to his five touchdown rushes.
With a running clock for all of the second half, the Vikings would find the end zone one time. Russell would be the loan scorer for Symmes Valley with a break away 63-yard touchdown. The home Falcons would get the last score of the game with two minutes remaining. Reed Twining would punch it in for the final exclamation mark of the huge win for Hillsdale, 48-7.
Hillsdale will face the eleven-seeded Danville Blue Devils in the Regional Final next Friday. Danville upset Catholic Central in the first round, Fisher Catholic in the second round and Waterford in the Regional Semi-Finals, 19-14. The winner of the Blue Devils and Falcons battle next week will be named the Regional Champions and will head to the State semi-finals. Hillsdale is looking to reach the State Championship once again after their loss to Marion Local in the final last season.