Team

Hubbard

Record	Div.	Conf.
5/5	Div. IV	All-American Conference White Tier

Team

Girard

Record	Div.	Conf.
9/2	Div. IV	All-American Conference Blue Tier

The only thing that stopped Eagles’ run game was lightning

By John Bassetti

sports@vindy.com

GIRARD

George Hill scored four times and Brandon Rios three as the senior running backs led Hubbard over the Girard, 55-7, at Arrowhead Stadium Friday night.

George Hill rushed 13 times for 131 yards while Rios had 102 yards on five attempts, including a 41-yard touchdown run that was scored simultaneously with the first of several lightning strikes that delayed the game one hour and 20 minutes.

One of Hill’s four TDs was an 81-yard kickoff return in the third quarter for Hubbard (2-0), which out-gained Girard (0-2) on the ground, 401-139.

On his 41-yarder, quarterback Cam Ingram handed off to Rios, then maneuvered ahead of Rios and acted as Rios’ interference downfield.

“We both saw the same play [what the linebackers were doing] and he [Ingram] told me he was going to give it [hand Rios the ball] and when he gave it to me, I saw a hole and followed him into the end zone,” Rios said. “It was a great momentum booster.”

After the TD at 9:21 of the second quarter, lightning was spotted and the field was cleared of players and coaches.

The delay began at 7:55 p.m. and continued until the players returned to the field at 9:15, when Hubbard missed its PAT try.

Holding Girard to seven points was a defense that included linemen Tyreek Daniels, Jacob Nail, Matt Whittenberger, Dillon O’Hara and linebackers Rios, Dom Pantone, Dave Hernandez and Sal Pesce.

“We were worried about Girard’s two really good receivers and their deep-ball threat, but both of our corners played really well,” Hubbard coach Brian Hoffman said of Joe Fisher and Sheldon McGhee as well as safeties Brett Lopuchovsky and Mason Borawiec.

“It was a sound game, defensively,” Hoffman said after the game ended at 11 p.m.. “When you can give up seven points against a good offense, you feel good about making strides forward.”

Jake Ryser had 72 yards rushing including the Indians’ lone TD,while Girard quarterback Mark Waid was 11 of 25 for 62 yards. Ingram hit six of 10 passes for 58 yards for the winners.

Girard’s Nick Hall had two catches for 22 yards, Anthony Backus snagged three for 20 and Collin Harden caught three for 14 yards. Hubbard’s Lopuchovsky had five catches for 45 and Hernandez caught one for 13 yards.