Is Hilliard, 10-0, Heading For State High Playoffs?
By Bob Baptist
Columbus Dispatch Reporter
A healthy dose of shaving cream and a shower with his clothes on. That’s the thanks Hilliard football Coach Bob Farmer got from his players Friday night.
But he didn’t care.
“This is great, isn’t it?” Farmer asked, a grin splitting his face. Hilliard’s third-year coach was reveling in his team’s 37-14 season-ending win over Reynoldsburg. It gave the Wildcats a 10-0 record, the first perfect season in the school’s history.
And it may not be over yet.
“We will practice football next week,” Farmer said. “Our season has just been extended.”
He hopes. The 23 points Hilliard earned by defeating the Raiders might put it back in the regional lead in its quest for a berth in the Ohio computer football playoffs. Groveport and Sandusky also are contenders, and nothing will be settled until Sandusky finished its season next weekend.
“But it hasn’t been a priority of ours,” added Farmer, saying he has explained the complex computer situation to his players. The computer’s doings have baffled more than a few unbeaten teams in the past, but Farmer insists his players are ready for anything.
“WE KNOW THERE’S a chance we couldn’t make the playoffs,” Farmer said. “But the ultimate goal was to beat Reynoldsburg and go 10-0. Everything else that may come will be icing on the cake.”
“We did all we could do,” said Assistant Coach Paul Johnston. “It’s out of your hands now,” added fellow assistant Kurt Hansen.
Hilliard took Friday’s game out of Reynoldsburg’s hands with a 21-point blitz in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats led only 6-0 at halftime and 16-6 after three quarters, but Dallas Sharp, Mark Hull and Kevin Durban converted three Reynoldsburg turnovers- two interceptions and a fumble- into insurance touchdowns.
Overall, the visiting Raiders had seven turnovers, five of which preceded Hilliard scores in the second half.
“TURNOVERS JUST killed us,” said Reynoldsburg Coach Mike Sammons, whose team finished the season at 7-3. “I thought we were kind of lucky to get out of the first half down only 6-0. I told the kids to hang tough, that things would start to go our way. But you don’t turn the ball over like that against a team like Hilliard and win balls games.”
Hilliard’s defensive opportunities were lead by Gary Garnett, who had seven solo tackles, caused one fumble, recovered another and sacked Reynoldsburg quarterback Kevin Reed twice.
Durban added five solo tackles and also caused a fumble and recovered another. He was as good on offense, rushing for 134 yards in 18 carries.
SHARP LED ALL runners with 159 yards in 28 carries. It was his fifth consecutive game over 100 yards rushing and put him past the 1,000-yard mark for the season at 1,031.
“Sharp complements Durban and Durban complements Sharp,” Farmer said of his backfield. “They’re a natural running duo.”
He also recognized the camaraderie of his assistant coaches; Johnston, Hansen, Tony Dote, Ray Justice and Jim Dougherty. “They never get any of the ink,” Farmer said. “but they deserve the credit.”
Hilliard’s players felt the same. They thanked the assistants Friday as they had Farmer- with a shower and some shaving cream.
Columbus Dispatch Reporter
A healthy dose of shaving cream and a shower with his clothes on. That’s the thanks Hilliard football Coach Bob Farmer got from his players Friday night.
But he didn’t care.
“This is great, isn’t it?” Farmer asked, a grin splitting his face. Hilliard’s third-year coach was reveling in his team’s 37-14 season-ending win over Reynoldsburg. It gave the Wildcats a 10-0 record, the first perfect season in the school’s history.
And it may not be over yet.
“We will practice football next week,” Farmer said. “Our season has just been extended.”
He hopes. The 23 points Hilliard earned by defeating the Raiders might put it back in the regional lead in its quest for a berth in the Ohio computer football playoffs. Groveport and Sandusky also are contenders, and nothing will be settled until Sandusky finished its season next weekend.
“But it hasn’t been a priority of ours,” added Farmer, saying he has explained the complex computer situation to his players. The computer’s doings have baffled more than a few unbeaten teams in the past, but Farmer insists his players are ready for anything.
“WE KNOW THERE’S a chance we couldn’t make the playoffs,” Farmer said. “But the ultimate goal was to beat Reynoldsburg and go 10-0. Everything else that may come will be icing on the cake.”
“We did all we could do,” said Assistant Coach Paul Johnston. “It’s out of your hands now,” added fellow assistant Kurt Hansen.
Hilliard took Friday’s game out of Reynoldsburg’s hands with a 21-point blitz in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats led only 6-0 at halftime and 16-6 after three quarters, but Dallas Sharp, Mark Hull and Kevin Durban converted three Reynoldsburg turnovers- two interceptions and a fumble- into insurance touchdowns.
Overall, the visiting Raiders had seven turnovers, five of which preceded Hilliard scores in the second half.
“TURNOVERS JUST killed us,” said Reynoldsburg Coach Mike Sammons, whose team finished the season at 7-3. “I thought we were kind of lucky to get out of the first half down only 6-0. I told the kids to hang tough, that things would start to go our way. But you don’t turn the ball over like that against a team like Hilliard and win balls games.”
Hilliard’s defensive opportunities were lead by Gary Garnett, who had seven solo tackles, caused one fumble, recovered another and sacked Reynoldsburg quarterback Kevin Reed twice.
Durban added five solo tackles and also caused a fumble and recovered another. He was as good on offense, rushing for 134 yards in 18 carries.
SHARP LED ALL runners with 159 yards in 28 carries. It was his fifth consecutive game over 100 yards rushing and put him past the 1,000-yard mark for the season at 1,031.
“Sharp complements Durban and Durban complements Sharp,” Farmer said of his backfield. “They’re a natural running duo.”
He also recognized the camaraderie of his assistant coaches; Johnston, Hansen, Tony Dote, Ray Justice and Jim Dougherty. “They never get any of the ink,” Farmer said. “but they deserve the credit.”
Hilliard’s players felt the same. They thanked the assistants Friday as they had Farmer- with a shower and some shaving cream.