WEEK 8: Astros rally in second half, but fall short 28-14

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HILLSBORO — East Clinton’s second half rally fell short Friday night, 28-14, to Hillsboro in a South Central Ohio League action in Highland County.

The loss puts East Clinton at 0-8 overall and 0-5 in the SCOL. The Astros have lost 16 straight games.

Hillsboro is now 2-6 overall and 1-4 in the SCOL.

For Hillsboro head coach Jack O’Rourke it was the renewing of a rivaly with East Clinton. O’Rourke, the former head coach at Blanchester, last played East Clinton in 2015 when Anthony Osburn injured his knee late in the first half but East Clinton went on to a victory over O’Rourke and the ’Cats. That was the last win by the Astros.

This time, O’Rourke and his Indians were not going to disappoint the large Homecoming contingent on hand at Richards Memorial Field.

Early in the game, East Clinton halted a Hillsboro drive by recovering a fumble but were unable to put together anything offensively.

Hunter Chain, who prior to the game was crowned the 2016 Hillsboro High School Homecoming King, picked off Jenkins’ pass and returned it 56 yards for the first score of the game with 6:04 to play in the opening period.

Luke Gallimore ended a Hillsboro drive early in the second quarter when he reached the end zone from 10 yards out. The extra point failed but the Indians led 13-0.

Gallimore would reach paydirt again, this time, though, from 83 yards away. That followed a Sajoun Jones touchdown as the Indians made it a three-touchdown second quarter to put the game away.

East Clinton, who had just 59 yards of offense in the first half, made a last-gasp effort to put points on the board in the first half but Britton Haines picked off another EC pass — Haines had three interceptions in the first half — to thwart the drive with just over a second to play.

The Astros got on the scoreboard early in the third when Anthony Osburn burst through the Hillsboro defense from 46 yards out as EC avoided the shutout. Austin Arellano booted the extra point to make it 26-7 with 6:36 to play in the third.

After stopping the Indians, East Clinton’s offense put together another solid drive. Osburn was still running hard and Jenkins was connecting with his receivers, specifically Wyatt Floyd to move in to Hillsboro territory. Osburn broke off a long run to get the ball inside the HHS 5. Jenkins capped the long drive by scoring on a keeper to get East Clinton a little closer. The Arellano PAT made it 26-14 with just over 9 minutes to play.

The East Clinton defense made its stand by halting the Indians on a fourth down play at the EC 2.

However, the Indians turned that into a couple of points when the snap from center sailed over Jenkins head and the Indians were credited with a safety, 28-14.

SUMMARY

October 14, 2016

@Richards Memorial Field

Hillsboro 28 East Clinton 14

H 07.19.00.02…..28

E 00.00.07.07…..14

First quarter

H-Hunter Chain 56 yard interception return (Kick good) 6:04

Second quarter

H-Luke Gallimore 10 yards run (Kick failed) 10:46

H-Sajoun Jones run (Conversion failed) 4:28

H-Luke Gallimore 83 yard run (Kick good) 1:05

Third quarter

EC-Anthony Osburn 46 yard run (Austin Arellano kick good) 6:36

Fourth quarter

EC-Brendan Jenkins 2 yard run (Austin Arellano kick good) 9:07

H-Hillsboro defense safety 3:38

Photo by Robert Stegbauer
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/10/web1_FB8_ec_osburn.jpgPhoto by Robert Stegbauer

Photo by Robert Stegbauer
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/10/web1_FB8_ec1.jpgPhoto by Robert Stegbauer

Photo by Robert Stegbauer
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/10/web1_FB8_ecjenkins.jpgPhoto by Robert Stegbauer

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