JEROMESVILLE — It was halftime of the regular season finale against Smithville and Hillsdale’s postseason dreams were in peril.
Then the Falcons flipped the switch and have been soaring ever since.
Sixth-seeded Hillsdale (9-3) will take on No. 1 Findlay Liberty-Benton (11-1) in the Division VI, Region 22 championship game Friday at Tiffin’s Frost-Kalnow Stadium. The Falcons will play for a regional title for the second time in school history and the first time since 2010 largely because of that spirited second-half performance against the Smithies in Week 10.
Hillsdale trailed 14-7 at halftime only to outscore Smithville 27-6 in the second half for a 34-20 win. The victory vaulted the Falcons from 10th in the Region 22 ranking all the way to sixth.
“Something clicked at halftime of our last (regular season) game against Smithville,” veteran coach Tom Williams said after the Falcons pounded Carey 41-0 in the regional semifinals. “We came out in the second half and just ran the ball really well. It continued into last week’s game (a 28-7 win over Seneca East in the first round) and into this game.
“We’re improving each and every time we step out on the field. From the beginning to the end of the season, this is the most improvement the coaching staff has seen out of any of our teams.”
In its last 10 quarters, Hillsdale has outscored opponents 96-13. The Falcons have dominated the line of scrimmage in both of their playoff victories.
“Our offensive line has really come around,” Williams said. “We’ve been able to consistently run the ball the last few weeks.”
Junior running back Garrett Smith rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries last week. The Falcons piled up 313 yards of rushing offense.
“We just know who we need to get blocked,” said two-way lineman Kyle Martin, an All-Northeast Inlands District first-team selection along the offensive line. “We’ve been playing well as a unit.”
As good as the offense has been, Hillsdale’s defense has been even better. Carey managed just 183 total yards last week, rushing for just four yards in the first half.
“Everybody is doing their job,” said junior safety Alex Becker, another All-NE Inlands first team pick. “As long as everybody is doing their job, we are in good shape. If one person doesn’t line up right or misses an assignment, that is when we get into trouble.”
The Falcons will have to be on point against Liberty-Benton. The Eagles have outscored their two postseason opponents 109-25 and have scored 40 or more points seven times. The defense has posted six shutouts.
“There are eight teams left in our division, so everyone going to be really good,” Williams said. “If you make mistakes you’re going to pay for them.”
The Falcons have employed a blueprint used against them to reach the doorstep of the state semifinals. Back in 2011, Hillsdale held a lead late in the regular season finale against Wayne County Athletic League foe Norwayne. The Bobcats scored a pair of touchdowns in the final minute and used the victory as a springboard to a Division IV state championship.
The Falcons would like to follow suit.
“For us, we’re going to do what we do,” Williams said. “We prepare for every team like it’s the biggest game of the year and go and play as hard as we can.”
