Senior quarterback Mason Swayne connected with Luke Middleton on a third and thirteen touchdown pass in overtime as the Hillsboro Indians defeated the Jackson Ironmen in a key Frontier Athletic Conference game at Jackson 27-21.
After a scoreless first period, the Indians reached the end zone in the second quarter as Dion Burns scored on a 1 yard plunge and with the Reece Bloomfield kick the Indians lead 7-0. The Ironmen answered with a drive of their own, scoring on a 16 yard pass from quarterback Jared Icenhower to Brody Landrum, and with the extra point the game was tied 7-7.
With the Indians driving late in the second quarter, Jackson was able to intercept a Swayne pass and 3 plays later took their first lead of the game on another Icenhower to Landrum touchdown pass, this time from 27 yards away, and the Ironmen lead 14-7 heading into the locker room at the half.
In the third quarter, Hillsboro forced Jackson into a three and out on their first possession and then went on an almost 9 minute drive with Swayne scoring on a 16 yard scamper, but the Indians missed the extra point and trailed 14-13.
Hillsboro’s ball control rushing attack chewed up yardage and time on the clock and eventually lead to the Indians retaking the lead, this time on a crucial touchdown pass from Swayne to Mark Gallimore, and when Swayne converted the 2 point conversion on a nice outside run, the Indians had the lead once again, 21-14, with 4:58 remaining in the game. Jackson mounted a drive and after converting a fourth down play in Hillsboro territory, the Ironmen scored on a touchdown run and added the extra point to tie the game at 21 with just over 1 minute to play. Hillsboro then chose to run out the clock in regulation and the game headed to overtime.
Jackson had the first possession in overtime, and on their second play from scrimmage Hillsboro’s Justin Spears made a diving interception of an Icenhower pass in the end zone to end the possession. Hillsboro then took over on the 20 yard line, and after Jackson forced 2 negative running plays, Swayne connected with Middleton for the walk off touchdown.
Hillsboro (7-1, 2-1) travels to Miami Trace next week while Jackson (5-3, 2-1) heads to Greenfield to take on the Tigers.