TRUMBULL COUNTY Hubbard wins, 33-19; Girard has 1st TAC loss

The Indians' quarterback was ejected for double unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
By JAMIE TRINA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
GIRARD -- The Hubbard-Girard high school football game Friday began as a seesaw battle between Trumbull Athletic Conference rivals, but early in the fourth quarter, Girard began to unravel, and it showed.
The result: Hubbard handed Girard its first conference loss of the season, 33-19, at Arrowhead Stadium.
Girard quarterback Matt Zuppo was ejected from the game after a double unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, on which he disagreed with an official.
Zuppo will be unable to play next week, according to Ohio High School Athletic Association rules.
Low scoring
The first half ended with low scoring from two high-powered offenses.
Shaun Lane provided 74 yards for Hubbard and a touchdown. Lane finished the game with 202 yards on 29 carries and two touchdowns.
"Our primary goal was to run the ball," Hubbard coach Jeff Bayuk said.
A blocked punt by senior Brian Hallapy gave the Eagles the ball -- and the momentum -- on the Girard 2-yard line. Claude Fisher then ran his way for a touchdown.
"It's [blocked punt] always a turning point in the game," Bayuk said.
The Hubbard defense used the momentum in the first half to its advantage.
Girard's initial first down came within the last minute of the first half. The Eagle defense also was able to hold Zuppo and the Indians offense to only 56 total yards in the half.
"We changed some personnel and tried to get quicker up front," Bayuk said.
The Indians' lone touchdown of the first half came on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Zuppo to a diving Nick Canterino as time expired. Hubbard led 12-6.
Third quarter
The third quarter changed pace offensively. The teams exchanged big plays, combining for three touchdowns in 31 seconds.
At the 5:36 mark of the third, Zuppo connected with Canterino once again, this time for a 28-yard strike.
The first play from scrimmage for Hubbard resulted in a 65-yard gallop by Lane as he jetted down the right sideline, weaving in and out of the Indian secondary with 5:22 left.
Then, with 5:05 remaining, Brandon Gardner connected with Ryan Collins for 66 yards on a wide-receiver option pass, giving the Indians a 19-18 lead.
Hubbard then took over on its own 35-yard line. Fifteen plays and 65 yards later, Hubbard quarterback Bryan Boyce regained the lead by following his center into the end zone from 1 yard out.
On the kickoff, Girard sophomore Nick Coggins fumbled the ball, allowing the Eagles to take over on the Girard 29-yard line.
Five plays later, Hubbard began to pull away with a 3-yard gut-busting run by Chris Buccilli.