By John Bassetti

sports@vindy.com

HUBBARD

What began as a night with high expectations for Hubbard High’s football team and running back Larry Scott, ended with those expectations fulfilled, but Struthers did its best to spoil the party in an All-American Conference American Division game won by the Eagles, 36-13.

Hubbard finished 10-0, 5-0 and Scott established the tri-county area’s career rushing record as well as his school’s single-season mark in a game that had plenty of tense moments throughout.

Scott, a senior Michigan State recruit, gained 230 yards on 34 carries to finish the regular season with a Valley-best 6,763. It eclipsed the previous career record of 6,619 set by Howland’s De’Veon Smith in 2012.

Scott’s Friday night performance also put him No. 1 among Hubbard’s single-season rushers with 2,274. The previous school record for a season was 2,044 set by Shaun Lane as a junior in 2002.

L.J. Scott and Isiah Scott both scored twice, while quarterback Cam Ingram also tallied for the playoff-bound Eagles. Isiah Scott’s second touchdown was on a 36-yard interception return that ignited Hubbard when the Eagles needed a jolt to put the Wildcats away.

Less than three minutes earlier, Hubbard had a safety to give it a 22-13 cushion midway through the fourth quarter.

Quarterback A.J. Musolino had TD runs of one and 57 yards for Struthers (4-6, 2-3).

Hubbard’s Ethan Wassil blocked one of Nemeth’s PAT attempts after Musolino’s 57-yard TD run pulled Struthers within 20-13 at 3:29 of the third quarter.

Scott entered the game with career 6,533 yards and needed 87 more yards to become the Valley’s new rushing king. The big moment came at the 4:58 mark of the second quarter on a simple power play left during which he gained seven yards.

Larry Scott entered the game with 1,876 yards this season and needed 169 to break Lane’s single-season record. He surpassed it on the first play of the fourth quarter on a 24-yard run.

“It was a dogfight; it was all four quarters tonight,” the 6-1, 225 Scott said. “We came out flat, but we’ve got to come out pumped up for the next five weeks if we’re going to be where we want to be.”

Of his record, he said, “I’ve got to stay humble. We’ve got to bounce back next week for sure.”

Isiah Scott said his pickoff came when the team needed a big play.

“Only big players get big plays and that was a pretty big play,” said the 6-3, 200 senior.

Hubbard lost its offensive complement to L.J. Scott when running back George Hill suffered a bruised tibia early in the game.

Besides center Frank Cimmento, Hubbard right guard Matt Jones was among those paving the way for Scott’s big night.

“We’re proud of him, but I’m sure he knows that it takes an O-line, too, but he really helps us out,” Jones said. “It’s a good team win and it makes a name for us.”

Of Struthers playing toe-to-toe, especially defensively in the first three quarters, Jones said, “We came out flat but that’s our fault and we can’t do that anymore. It’s not going to happen next week, though,” said the 6-4, 305 West Virginia-bound Jones.

Hubbard coach Brian Hoffman agreed that Struthers was well-prepared.

“They had a big win last week against Howland, so we knew it wasn’t going to be easy. For our guys, it was the first legitimate four-quarter game they’ve been in, so, to see them battle through some little adversity — we had some turnovers that didn’t help — we still finished strong and made some big plays, defensively.”

Struthers coach Curt Kuntz praised his defense, which has led the Wildcats through 10 games.

“Our kids play hard on Friday nights and, physically, you couldn’t ask any more,” said Kuntz, who was complimentary of his defensive coordinator, Gary Hoelzel. “The kids buy into him and have run to the ball since Day 1, so he’s special. How they play is a reflection of his attitude.”

Kuntz gave wholehearted compliments to undersized defensive tackles Jay King and Marc DelSignore.

“They’re the guys who end up under the pile of beef and nobody ever notices them doing their job.”