The Miami Trace Panthers looked to make it a sweep of SCOL games invovling Highland County teams when they hosted the Hillsboro Indians Friday on Senior Night, 2008.

It turned out to be a long, difficult night for the Indians as the Panthers rolled to a 42-7 victory.

The Panthers are now 5-4 overall, 3-2 in the SCOL.

With the loss, Hillsboro falls to 1-8 overall, 0-5 in the league.

There were, simply put, too many mistakes by the Indians Friday in a game in which they needed to play as close to mistake-free as possible to entertain hopes of pulling the upset.

“We made about every mistake I think that you can make in a football game,” Hillsboro head coach Duane Earley said. “The (special teams), the offense, the defense; we just flat-out didn’t play very well.

“We’ve got McClain coming to our place next week for the Rotary Bowl,” Earley said. “This will be the last opportunity for our seniors to play and so we’ve got to regroup and prepare for McClain. That’s a big rivalry for us. We’ve just got to put this behind us and get ready for McClain.”

“Senior Night is a special night,” Miami Trace head coach Mike Bernard said. “We’re extremely pleased to be able to send this group of seniors, who’ve put a lot of work and effort into this program, off with a nice victory like we had tonight.

“There’s nothing better on Senior Night than to be able to take the last quarter off and standing on the sidelines watching the younger kids and knowing you’ve accomplished a pretty big goal.

“We did a nice job tonight,” Bernard said. “We had some nice stands defensively when we needed it; had some nice runs and a couple of extremley nice passes.

“The defense got in on the action with a couple of turnovers and we were able to return, if not for touchdowns, then pretty close and they helped set up touchdowns for us,” Bernard said. “This was pretty much a team victory.”

The Panthers took the opening kick-off on Senior Night, 2008 and methodically marched 78 yards in seven plays for the game’s initial score. Panther senior Tom Armstrong broke across the goal line for a five-yard scoring run. Senior Brett Garland added the extra point kick for a 7-0 lead with 8:52 to play in the first quarter.

Airic Steagall recovered a Panther fumble for Hillsboro late in the first quarter. After one, it was Miami Trace 7, Hillsboro 0.

Panther sophomore Travis McIntosh intercepted an Airic Carroll pass and returned it 41 yards down to the Hillsboro five-yard line, setting up a quick score by the Panthers as Armstrong again had the honors from five yards out. Garland’s kick made it 14-0 Panthers with 10:57 remaining in the second quarter.

After a punt by the Indians, Hillsboro’s Logan Walker recovered a Panther fumble at the Miami Trace 18-yard line with 7:50 to play in the first half.

The Indians could not get the offensive push they needed and soon turned it back over to the Panthers on downs.

Moments later, Armstrong broke through the middle of the Indian defense and hurried 72 yards for a touchdown with 5:53 to play in the second quarter. Garland’s true kick made it 21-0, Panthers.

On its next possession, Hillsboro managed one first down but soon had to punt away.

With under one minute to play in the half, Garland attempted a 45-yard field goal for the Panthers, but it was a few yards short.

Hillsboro was hoping to take it into the lockerroom down three scores, but the Indians fumbled, only to have the Panthers’ Trey Anderson pick up the loose ball and return it 27-yards for a touchdown with 18.2 seconds to play. Garland’s kick made it 28-0 Panthers at the half.

On this chilly night in Fayette County, the teams returned to the field for the second half of play. Hillsboro had a fumble recovery, but could not capitalize.

Midway through the quarter, senior quarterback Caleb Redding hit a streaking senior Trevor Milstead down the home sidelines for a 61-yard touchdown pass. Garland’s kick was again true, making it 35-0 with 6:51 to play in the third quarter.

The Indians soon had another costly mistake as Hillsboro muffed a punt that was recovered by the Panthers’ Tyler Fraley and returned to Hillsboro’s four-yard line.

Armstrong soon took it over the goal line from two yards out to make it 41-0 with 5:13 to play in the third quarter. Garland gave way to Mark Girton who kicked the extra point for a 42-0 tally.

Late in the third quarter, the Indians fumbled a punt return recovered by the Panthers. A personal foul on Miami Trace gave the home squad the ball first and 25 at their own 39-yard line with 7.6 seconds left in the third.

As the Panthers began liberal substitutions in the fourth quarter, Hillsboro recovered a Panther fumble with 8:03 to play in the game.

The Indians got on the scoreboard when freshman Christian Wildey broke free and into the Panther secondary, taking it all the way to the end zone for a 57-yard touchdown. Airic Steagall’s kick made what proved to be the final score, 42-7. Hillsboro’s score came with 1:53 to play in the game.

Miami Trace is at Washington Friday and Hillsboro hosts McClain for the Rotary Bowl game.

“No matter if we’re 5-4 or 0-9 or they’re 9-0 or 0-9, this week coming up is a big week for us,” Bernard said. “We’ve already started talking to the kids about what Court House week means. It’ll be the biggest game of the year for us.”

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