Thompson vs Hillsboro/Central Valley

Recap

North Dakota Division A Football Playoffs

A strong second half propelled the Hillsboro/Central Valley Burros to a 18-8 win over the Thompson Tommies in the first round of the North Dakota 11A playoffs. After the Burro defense forced a redzone stop it was the Tommie defense that started the scoring in the second quarter by tackling the Burros in the endzone for a safety.

After the safety kick the Tommies extended their lead with a 54-yard scoring drive, which included a fake punt for a 34-yard gain, for an 8-0 lead after the 2-pt conversion attempt failed. The teams traded punts on their next possession and then traded turnovers on back to back plays with the Tommies intercepting the Burros before they forced and recovered a fumble on the next play to end up with the Burros having possession near midfield with under two minutes left in the first half.

Hillsboro/Central Valley hit on a pair of pass plays that brought them to the 2-yard line, leading to a Touchdown run with :18 seconds left before halftime to go into the break with the Tommies leading 8-6. The scoreless third quarter was a game of field position as the teams traded punts to start and then the Burro defense made another redzone stop.

The Burros originally stopped the Tommies on a 4th-down play, but a defensive pass interference penalty gave the Tommies a first and goal from the five. The Burro defense would push the Tommies back a yard and it was again a 4th down attempt. The Tommie pass into the endzone just missed and the score remained 8-6 in favor of the Tommies as the Burros took over on offense in the final minutes of the third quarter. Needing a spark on offense the Burros found one, with a 94-yard drive, including a 63-yard run down to the one with the Burros punching it in from a yard out on the next play to take their first lead of the game at 12-8. The fourth quarter statement was big plays by the Burro defense with an interception, a blocked punt, and another interception on the next three Tommie drives in the quarter.

The Burro offense would score after the block punt gave them the ball at the 5-yard line and the touchdown made it 18-8. One final drive by the Tommie offense ended with a turnover on downs and the Burros were able to kneel out the clock for a playoff victory in their final home game of the season.

The #8 seeded Burros record improves to 8-2 overall and will travel to #1 seeded Langdon Area/Munich next Saturday. The Tommies end their season with a 5-5 overall record.

Hillsboro/Central Valley Burros:

225 yards total offense (161 rushing, 64 passing) 1 turnover, 9 penalties/75 yards, 7 first downs

Rushing:

Sawyer Owens: 12 carries, 82 yards, TD

Carson Kozojed: 5 carries, 16 yards, TD

Tyson Leshuk: 9 carries, 74 yards, TD

Passing:

Tyson Leshuk: 5/11 passing, 64 yards, Int

Receiving:

Bryce Miller: 2 catches, 13 yards

Sawyer Ownes: 1 catch, 31 yards

Chase Haffley: 1 catch, 20 yards

Defense/Special Teams:

Jacob Miller: Force Fumble, Fumble Recovered, Interception

Bryce Miller: Blocked punt

Collin Jennen: sack

Brody Rogenes: Interception

Thompson Tommies:

179 yards total offense (152 rushing, 27 passing), 3 turnovers, 3 penalties/25 yards, 11 first downs

Rushing:

Charlie Yon: 27 carries, 88 yards

Rylan Penas: 1 carry, 34 yards

Cash Danner: 5 carries, 37 yards, TD

Passing:

Gavin Oster: 5/17 passing, 27 yards, 2 Int

Receiving:

Joe Tayloe: 3 catches, 19 yards

Eli Gemmil: 1 catch, 7 yards

Charlie Yon: 1 catch, 1 yard

Defense/Special Teams:

Jevin Fee: sack

Brady Ripplinger: Interception

Thompson FB Brady Schwab

HCV FB Joe Johnson