Burros had 11 starters out with injury –
N. Mt. JULIET – Green Hill celebrated homecoming Friday night with a gutty 17-7 victory over injury-riddled Region 5, 5A opponent Hillsboro.
“Our community and culture, I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Green Hill coach Josh Crouch said. “Every time I look back there on third down you can’t replace the feeling.”
Hillsboro opened the scoring with a five minute drive that ended with senior Thaddeus Johnson plunging into the endzone for a one yard score.
Green Hill went three and out on its opening drive, but after a sluggish start QB Cade Mahoney found senior Kaleb Carver for a 5-yard touchdown to knot the contest at seven.
Shortly before halftime the Hawks marched down the field and set up senior Sam Crickmar for a 34-yard kick. He missed with 1:27 left on the clock giving the Burros got another chance.
Hawk defensive back Heath Monsat snuffed out the ensuing Burro drive by intercepting quarterback Kordale Keel’s first pass.
Mahoney promptly marched his squad down the field, allowing Crickmar to attempt and make a 40-yard field goal as time expired to send Green Hill to the break with a narrow 10-7 advantage.
Green Hill turned the ball over on a pair of third quarter fumbles by Caleb Carver and Niko Duffie, but the Hawk defensive unit stood tall and turned the Burros away.
Following a scoreless third period, Green Hill’s Cade Mahoney was picked off by Thaddeus Johnson with 10 minutes to go in game. Johnson returned the interception 40 yards to set up the Burros.
Kicker Andrew Thorton missed a chance to tie the game for with eight minutes to go as his field goal attempt from 40-yards out was just off line.
Green Hill’s Mahoney completed 11-of-18 pass attempts for 98 yards with one touchdown and an interception.
Junior Niko Duffie ran for 99 yards while Brax Lamberth picked up 47 yards and a touchdown.
“I felt like Niko had a little bit of a hotter touch tonight,” Crouch said. “He has a different dynamic shift than what Brax has.”
“Defensively, we’ve probably been the best in the state in the last two weeks,” said Hillsboro coach Anthony Brown said. “We’re playing a competitive schedule and we just have to finish at the end.”
The Burros were playing without 14 players (11 starters) but Coach Brown still felt his squad held their own against the Hawks.
“We’re staying steady at it, and hopefully we get a few of those guys back soon,” Brown said. “We’re going to keep chopping wood and eventually that tree is going to come down.”
With the win, green Hill improved to 4-1 on the season headed into a Sept. 23 road game at 4-1 White County.
The Burros, who slipped to 0-4 with the loss, return to action next Friday playing at home against Brentwood High.
Green Hill 17, Hillsboro 7
Hillsboro 7 0 0 0 – 7
Green Hill 0 10 0 7 – 14
First quarter
HHS – (5:50) Thaddeus Johnson 1 run. Andrew Thronton kick.
Second quarter
GHS – (6:37) Kaleb Carver 5 pass from Cade Mahoney. Sam Crickmar kick.
GHS – (0:01) Crickmar 40 field goal.
Fourth quarter
GHS – (3:39) Brax Lamberth 2 run. Crickmar kick.
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