By John Bassetti

sports@vindy.com

HUBBARD

Hubbard’s 13th playoff appearance was anything but unlucky as the Eagles rolled to a Division III, Region 7 playoff-opening win over Tallmadge, 45-14, on Friday night.

As usual, running back Larry Scott had another offensive whopper.

The Michigan State-bound senior carried 22 times for 286 yards and four touchdowns, while Isiah Scott caught a pass from Cam Ingram that covered 50 yards. Ethan Wassil also got into the act with a 19-yard TD pass from Ingram. Cameron Syersak had a 25-yard field goal and converted six point-after kicks.

Outside linebacker Tyler Taafe had a playoff-worthy game with pressure on Tallmadge quarterback Joe Vassalotti, while fullback Tyreek Daniels was strong as a blocker as well as disrupting the Blue Devils’ offense from his defensive end position.

“We didn’t panic at all because our coaches had us in the right positions all night and we had no doubt what we had to do, so we had complete faith in what we were doing,” Taafe said.

Hubbard coach Brian Hoffman said that the Eagles (11-0) made blocking adjustments as the first half went along to help offset various defensive fronts that Tallmadge presented.

Hubbard led at the half, 31-14, although Tallmadge (6-5) had 237 yards passing to Hubbard’s 24 during that span. However, Hubbard outgained the Blue Devils on the ground, 234-33, during the first half. For the game, Hubbard produced 418 yards of offense, while the visitors had 100 fewer.

Brett Lopuchovsky, Larry Scott and Ethan Wassil had first-half interceptions, while the Eagles had no turnovers in the first 24 minutes.

In all, Vassalotti threw five interceptions for the Blue Devils, who boasted twin tackles Jake Whitehurst (6-foot-5, 280 pounds) and Ben Cipa (6-8, 310).

Larry Scott’s first touch of the ball of the game was a 51-yard touchdown run that, following Syersak’s point-after-kick, put the Eagles up, 7-0, at 9:51.

It didn’t take long — precisely 32 seconds later — for another lightning-quick run by Scott and PAT by Syersak to push Hubbard ahead, 14-0. Scott’s TD run covered 45 yards.

Already penalty-plagued, Tallmadge took possession at its 30-yard line and ended up in the end zone when Vassalotti hit Latrele Moore on a 21-yard TD pass. Jadon Wolf’s kick pulled the Blue Devils within seven, 14-7, with 3:56 left in the first quarter

Tallmadge tied the game just 20 seconds later following the ensuing kickoff when the visitor recovered its own onside kick. Again, Vassalotti found Moore for a TD pass play covering 47 yards. Wolf’s PAT knotted the score at 14.

Hubbard snapped the tie for good when Scott ran 12 yards at 2:04 and Syersak’s boot followed for a 21-14 edge. Lopuchovsky’s pickoff set up Hubbard’s next touchdown, a 12-yard run by Larry Scott at 9:12 of the second quarter for a 28-14 lead.

Larry Scott’s interception led to a 31-14 spread when Syersak made a 25-yard field goal with 3:12 left in the first half.