Second-half collapse send Hilldale to loss at Broken Bow

Oct. 20—Hilldale overcame first-quarter struggles to be tied at the half at Broken Bow Friday.

But Broken Bow scored on their first four possessions in the second half while keeping the Hornets off the board, beating Hilldale 35-7.

The Hornets struggled to move the ball on offense early on, but so did the Savages until 4:11 left in the first quarter.

With Broken Bow at its own 11-yard line, Kyran Whitfield took a hand off and bolted up the middle and looked as though he was taking it to the house. For Hilldale (3-5, 1-4 District 4A-4), Brady Scott did not give up on the play and tackled Whitfield at the 3. Three plays later, Whitfield busted through the line for the touchdown and the extra point put the Savages in front 7-0 with 2:52 left in the quarter.

Hilldale's defense seemed to wake up and kept the Savages (2-5, 2-3 4A-4) in the middle of the field for the remainder of the first half. Meanwhile, Hilldale seemed for find something, abandoning the shotgun and Talon Shaffer, starting the game at quarterback for the injured Dawson Fields, going under center.

Late in the second quarter, Hilldale moved the ball down to the Broken Bow 9-yard line. On fourth-and-4, Shaffer dropped back and found Parker in the corner of the end zone for the TD. Cash Shiller converted the extra point and with 1:18 remaining until halftime, the score was tied 7-7.

Broken Bow received the second-half kickoff and marched right down the field as Whitfield capped off the drive with a one-yard burst to put the Savages back in front 14-7.

After forcing Hilldale into a three-and-out, Broken Bow put together another scoring drive, highlighted by a fake punt by Tyrin Tinajero from their 45.

The Savages methodically pushed the ball into the red zone and on a first and goal from the Hilldale 14-yard line, after a holding penalty, Anthony Clay found Tinajero at the 2 and Tinajero spun out of the tackle and crossed the goal line, pushing the Savages' lead to 21-7 with 2:34 left in the third quarter.

Broken Bow's next possession came with the same result, a Savage touchdown.

It started when Whitfield picked off a Shaffer pass at the Broken 29 and returned it to the Hilldale 46. From there it was a dose of Whitfield until Broken Bow had second down at the Hilldale 19 when Quinlan Bailey busted through the defensive line, putting the Savages up 28-7, after the extra point, with 9:03 left in the contest.

The final touchdown came when Adin Coley scored from five yards out with 5:14 remaining to put the Savages up 35-7.

Hilldale hosts Madill needing a win to remain alive for a playoff spot.