TSSAA Class 5A Region 6 week one opened Friday night for the 2017 football season and the Hillsboro Burros traveled south to face the Brentwood Academy Eagles who are not only nationally ranked 15th in the country, but are the only Tennessee team ranked in the top 25 of the USA Today HHS Sports Pre-Season Super 25 list. The 2-time Division II state champions lived up to the hype winning 53-14 in a tough loss for the Burros.

However, getting through the first and second quarters would strongly test the will every squad from special teams to second teams.

The Burros faced a ‘sink or swim’ moment when the horn shrilled to end the first half. The Burros had to decide, after getting down 53 points whether to give up or come out with a renewed determination to make the second half a whole new ballgame. To the delight of the Hillsboro fans who filled the entire visitors sections of BA stadium, Hillsboro left the white flag in the locker room.

The Burros began by turning the disappointing stat of not earning a 1st down the entire first half to coming within 1  of matching the Eagle’s total number of first downs for the entire game, on a running mercy clock, no less. The Burros earned their the 1st of 9 first down at the 10:39 mark in the 3^rd and stopped the Eagles forcing  5 punts and turn over on downs holding the score to zero in the second half. All BA points were scored in the first half.

First Half Summary

The Burros exited the first half giving up a 84 yard touchdown return by Daniel Taylor (Wilson kick) on the opening kick-off and failed to earn a first down in the first half. BA scored its second TD on a hard earned 1 yard run by Tahir Anoor and a two conversion by Gavin Schoenwald. The first quarter ended with a TD 41 yard rush by Anoor, (Wilson PAT) and a 34 yard field goal by Gus Wilson.

The Eagles spread the scoring love around in the second quarter with a Michael Archie 24 yard pass from Connor Woodlee (Wilson PAT); an Archie 3 yard pass from Schoenwald; (Wilson PAT); Tomario Pleasant 6 yard run (Wilson kick); and Camron Johnson’s 54 yard punt return (Perry PAT). The half ended with a score of Brentwood Academy 53 – 0

Second Half Summary

The Burros defense stepped up the pressure in the second half holding the Eagles scoreless. Determined and more confident and despite the score the Burros obviously used the second half as a second game.

Early in the third quarter, quarterback Darius Smith, #15 led the team to within inches of the goal line and a turnover scraped the opportunity to score, however, unlike the first half, the Burros did not allow a mistake to shake their confidence. The defense worked quickly to the offense back on the field and Jeremiah Edwards found the end zone with a 17 yard rush (no PAT).

Penalties helped walk back Hillsboro gains more than once but none more frustrating than the one earned on what might have been a 2^nd 48 yard from Darius Smith on a 41 yard rush that was called back on a holding penalty.

Smith would help Edwards find the end zone 4 plays later with a2 yard run and Smith’s two point conversion to finish out the scoring for the evening 53-14.

Losses like Friday’s 53-14 against Brentwood Academy can turn a field full of boys into a team full men if the Burros take the attitude and confidence of the second half into the upcoming August 25^th game against Stratford.

It will be the first home game for the Burros and the first game of the season with two MNPS teams facing each other.

A point to note is Stratford is Head Coach Fitzgerald’s former home as of last year, and the Spartans are sure to make the trip south the Burro Dome ready to play hard looking for a win against their former coach.

Students will have their first pep rally of the season to get fired up for the first home game that starts at 7:00 pm. Stay tuned to the Hillsboro Globe’s twitter feed for updates on tailgating and other activities.

Score by Quarters

Scoring Summary

Team Stats