Hubbard gets another shot at SV-SM

By Steve Ruman

sports@vindy.com

NILES

Throughout the entire 2014 season, the Hubbard Eagles have been making headlines because of a high-octane offense which is averaging 48 points.

On Friday night at a blustery Bo Rein Stadium in Niles, the Eagles’ defense stepped up and proved that it, too, has what it takes to make the Eagles a legitimate Division III state title contender.

As a result, Hubbard advances to the Region 7 final thanks to a 23-19 win over Aurora in a game which began on a snow-covered field and ended with temperatures in the mid-20s.

Hubbard will now play Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in a regional final next Friday at a site to be determined on Sunday by the Ohio High School Athletic Association. The winner will advance to the Division III state semifinals.

As he has done all season long, Larry Scott sparked the Hubbard offense. Scott gained 209 yards on 33 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns. The Michigan State commit also broke loose on a 64-yard run on Hubbard’s first play from scrimmage, but that run was called back due to a penalty.

Hubbard racked up 324 yards of offense on the night, though the Eagles often had to work hard for their yards. This time, the big plays were reserved for the Eagles’ defense, which seemed to seize control each time Aurora threatened to get make a run.

“Defensively, we did what we had to do,” said Hubbard coach Brian Hoffman. “The defense was put in difficult spots throughout the night, but they were resilient. Sometimes it is easy to overlook their play because of our big-play offense. But they always come up big when they have to.”

Hubbard limited Aurora to three straight three-and-outs on consecutive possessions to start the game. The third series gave Hubbard possession inside Aurora territory. Following a 38-yard pass from Cameron Ingram to Isiah Scott, Ingram scored on a 9-yard run to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Another three-and-out by the Greenmen gave Hubbard the ball at its 29. This time, the Eagles marched 71 yards on 10 plays, capped by an Larry Scott’s 1-yard run. The drive was kept alive when Isiah Scott lined up to punt on a fourth-down play, but instead ran for 25 yards to the Aurora 40.

“That was a designed rugby-type punt,” Isiah Scott said. “I had the choice to run or punt. I thought they jumped offsides so I just stopped for a second. Then I saw an opening around the end and took advantage for the big run.”

Aurora scored its first touchdown with 3:16 left in the half when Nathan Stafford got behind the Hubbard defense and pulled in a 55-yard pass from Alex Smierciak.

The Greenmen drove down to the Hubbard 15 on their next possession before Brett Lopuchovsky pulled down an interception at the 2 and returned it 53 yards.

Hubbard scored on its first two possessions of the second half to build a 23-7 lead. Cameron Syersak booted a 37-yard field goal and Larry Scott ran for a 7-yard TD.

Aurora scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns on a pair of 3-yard runs by Smierciak — the latter coming on the game’s final play.

In between, the Hubbard defense made two huge plays that kept the momentum with the Eagles. The first came at the start of the fourth quarter when Matt Jones ripped the ball out of Smierciak’s hands and recovered a fumble at the Hubbard 1, preventing a touchdown.

Then when Aurora cut its deficit to 23-13 and recovered an onside kick with 4:36 to play, Isiah Scott intercepted a pass in the Hubbard end zone.

“Our defense worked as a unit, as it always does,” Jones said. “We take pride in our play, we know we’re a big part of how far this team will go.”

Hubbard was defeated by SV-SM in the playoffs in 2010, 2012 and 2013.

“We take things week-by-week, so we weren’t looking ahead,” Jones said. “But at the same time, (playing SV-SM) has always been in the back of our mind. We want the chance to finally beat them.”