Howland leads early,

but can’t make it last

By Greg Gulas

sports@vindy.com

HOWLAND

Howland did something no other team has been able to do this season against Hubbard, the state’s top-ranked Division III team.

The Tigers took the lead against the Eagles.

It lasted all of 116 seconds.

Larry Scott rushed for a game-high 241 yards and four touchdowns while George Hill added 144 yards and two scores as the Eagles stopped the Tigers, 48-16, in All-American Conference, American Division action Friday night at Richard Lombardo Field.

“We came out a little flat tonight but picked it up after our first two series, which resulted in three-and-outs,” Scott said. “We knew what was at stake and being number one in the state only means that we have a big target on our backs.

“We need to be prepared for anything and everything and must prove ourselves every week if we want to stay there.”

The Tigers (6-2, 1-2) held the Eagles to just six total plays on their opening two drives, which netted just eight total yards.

Jacob Lowe’s 27-yard field goal with 42 seconds remaining in the opening period allowed Howland to take a 3-0 margin after the first 12 minutes of play.

When Hill scored the first of his two touchdowns on the evening on a 3-yard run just 74 seconds into the second quarter, the Eagles (8-0, 4-0) made it 7-3. They never trailed again.

“We do extra stuff after practice to stay together as a team and after a slow start tonight, were able to pick up the pace in the second quarter,” Hill said. “Give credit to our offensive line, because when they block great, we have a great game and they blocked great tonight.”

Scott’s 10-yard run at 6:32 of the second quarter — his first score of the game s— taked the Eagles to a 14-3 lead at intermission.

Zach Hover, one of the anchors of the Eagles’ offensive line, said falling behind tested Hubbard’s mettle.

“This was the first time all season that we were trailing and it was a lesson all of us will learn from,” Hover said. “When we were down by three points early in the second half it was gut-check time.

“We want our running backs to get into open space, so our goal from last year to this year was to get better downfield. We’ll only get better from this game as we move forward.”

Scott’s three touchdowns — from 3, 16 and 13 yards — after intermission offset Jaquore Marrs’ 88-yard kickoff return as the Eagles built a 34-9 margin heading to the fourth quarter.

“It took us two series to adjust tonight and I couldn’t be prouder of our guys’ performance. We challenged the entire team and told them they needed to play their best football and I couldn’t have asked for a better effort,” Hubbard coach Brian Hoffman said.

“Our offensive line has done the job all year and to have two backs with over 1,000 yards at this point of the season is not only a credit to them, but our offensive line as well.”

Hubbard’s Cameron Ingram found Isaiah Scott from 10 yards for a 41-9 advantage a little over four minutes in the final frame.

Tyriq Ellis raced 50 yards for Howland’s longest run from scrimmage to cut the Hubbard lead to 41-16.

Hill’s 5-yard run completed the scoring.

“There’s no moral victory as the end result is all that matters. Our kids played hard but ran out of steam in the second half,” Tigers coach Dom Menendez said.

“Hubbard is an excellent football team. They’ve got the guys and every piece of the puzzle just fits. We’ll rebound from this, get back at it on Monday and take care of business the final two weeks of the season.”

The Tigers racked up 489 total offensive yards to just 174 for the Tigers.

Neither team committed a turnover.