Early sequence hurts Vandalia in loss

HILLSBORO – The first few minutes of last Friday’s football game were rough.

But if the series of events that allowed Hillsboro to take a 21-0 lead in just 2:35 hadn’t occurred, the 56-28 blowout loss for the Vandals could have been a tight game.

“We dug ourselves a hole early, obviously,” said coach John Stout. “I couldn’t even speculate (about how it happened).”

It took just 1:14 before Hillsboro’s Gavin Twitty found the end zone on a 30-yard run to cap the first possession of the game.

On the ensuing kickoff, the ball hit the ground with backspin, and rolled back toward Hillsboro’s defenders, with Austin McCaslin recovering the loose ball.

Twitty rolled back into the end zone three plays later on a 15-yard run.

On the ensuing kickoff, Vandalia wasn’t able to cleanly field the kickoff, allowing McCaslin to jump on another loose ball and quarterback Matt Tomazzoli to run in from a yard out two plays later, with 9:25 left on the first-quarter clock.

“We hadn’t even run a play yet, and we’re down 21-0,” Stout said. “We looked so good running special teams this week in practice.

“We have got to get our special teams to where we don’t give up a big play.”

Special teams play has been an issue for the Vandals all season, as opponents had returned seven kicks or punts inside the Vandalia 36-yard line in the first five games, including two touchdowns and another return to the 2-yard line.

Without the 21-0 start, last Friday’s game likely would have been a competitive one, as Hillsboro outscored the Vandals (0-6) by only one touchdown the rest of the way.

The Hiltoppers (3-3) led 28-0 after Twitty scored another touchdown 1:01 into the second quarter, but Vandalia responded on the next drive, with senior Dalton Smith returning the kickoff to the Hillsboro 21-yard line, and then getting a 3-yard touchdown five plays later.

After a pair of punts, Hillsboro got a 55-yard run by Cole Deming to go ahead, 35-6, and would then take the ball to halftime, with the defensive line blocking a field goal as time expired in the first half.

“I gave credit to their offensive line,” Stout said. “Some of our guys played really well, but their guys really came off of the ball.”

Hillsboro gained 470 yards on the ground during the game, with Twitty posting 170 and Deming running for 139.

The Hiltoppers used a unique offensive formation in which several players spin away from a handoff, but Stout said he doesn’t believe that is why Hillsboro was able to gain so many yards.

“We tried to get our guys not focusing on all those guys spinning around,” he said. “I don’t think it was the spinning around that got us, it was their line getting off of the ball and doing a good job of running their offense.”

Vandalia got its biggest play of the night on the second half’s opening kickoff, with senior Dalton Smith dashing 85 yards up the sideline for a touchdown.

“He’s got that break-away speed to do that at any time,” Stout said. “He’s made some big plays the past few weeks, and hopefully, he’ll stay healthy to make some more for us.”

Smith wasn’t able to rush the ball as he had the past two weeks, losing a yard on five carries after gaining 250 on 20 carries in the previous two games.

But the Vandals did still move the ball on the ground, with sophomore Bobby Bradley gaining 91 yards on seven carries, and senior C.J. Runkel gaining a career-high 73 yards on nine attempts.

Bradley added his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter, scoring on a 50-yard run with 10:40 left in the game, and junior quarterback Collin Nestleroad had a 10-yard rushing score in the third quarter.

Defensively, junior Robby Lott had a career-high 15 total tackles, which included 11 of the solo variety and two for a loss of yardage.

Coming into the game, he had just 22 total tackles, with two for a loss of yards.

“Robby struggled a little bit early in the season,” Stout said. “Now, he’s shown an ability to make some tackles.”

The Vandals had five tackles for loss in the game, and have recorded 25 such tackles on the season.

Friday, Oct. 4
Hillsboro 56
Vandalia 28
V: 0-7-13-8—28
H: 21-14-7-14—56

Scoring summary
First quarter
•10:46 – Gavin Twitty (HHS) rushed for 30 yards (Joe Passariello kick); Hillsboro 7, Vandalia 0.
•9:38 – Twitty (HHS) rushed for 15 yards (Passariello kick); Hillsboro 14, Vandalia 0.
•9:25 – Matt Tomazzoli (HHS) rushed for 1 yard (Passariello kick); Hillsboro 21, Vandalia 0.
Second quarter
•10:59 – Twitty (HHS) rushed for 24 yards (Passariello kick); Hillsboro 28, Vandalia 0.
•8:43 – Dalton Smith (VHS) rushed for 3 yards (Smith kick); Hillsboro 28, Vandalia 7.
•5:29 – Cole Deming (HHS) rushed for 55 yards (Passariello kick); Hillsboro 35, Vandalia 7.
Third quarter
•11:45 – Smith (VHS) returned a kickoff 85 yards (2-point conversion failed); Hillsboro 35, Vandalia 12.
•7:22 – Tomazzoli (HHS) rushed for 8 yards (Passariello kick); Hillsboro 42, Vandalia 12.
•2:52 – Collin Nestleroad (VHS) rushed for 10 yards (Nestleroad passed to Smith for 2-point conversion); Hillsboro 42, Vandalia 20
Fourth quarter
•10:52 – Austin McCaslin (HHS) rushed for 33 yards (Passariello kick); Hillsboro 49, Vandalia 20
•10:40 – Bobby Bradley (VHS) rushed for 50 yards (Nestleroad rush for 2-point conversion); Hillsboro 49, Vandalia 28
•5:07 – McCaslin (HHS) rushed for 10 yards (Passariello kick); Hillsboro 56, Vandalia 28

Vandalia statistics
Rushing: Bradley, 7-91, TD; Runkel, 9-73; Nestleroad, 11-23, TD; Blake Hankins, 1-1; Smith, 5-(-1), TD; Team, 1-(-21). Team total: 34-166, 3 TD.
Passing: Nestleroad, 2-6, 34 yards.
Receiving: Smith, 2-34.
Defense: Lott, 11 tackles, 2 TFL, 4 assists; Runkel, 6 tackles, TFL, 5 assists; Rodney Tedrick, 6 tackles, TFL; Bradley, 4 tackles, TFL,2 assists; Jake Stone, 4 tackles, 6 assists; Grant Wells, 3 tackles, 2 assists; Tristin Long, tackle, 4 assists; Seth Purcell, tackle, 3 assists; Kendrick Woolsey, tackle, assist; Wade Harre, pass defense, 2 assists; Dillon Tate, 5 assists; Codie Jackson, 3 assists; Tucker Willms, assists.
Record: 0-6