Caleb Riordan | Ameritime Sports Writer
The Hillsboro Hawks Varsity Football Team meets a familiar foe in their first playoff game of the 2021 season. They’ll take on the rival Festus Tigers on Friday, November 5th at 7 pm.
The Hawks didn’t play last week after their 8-1 regular season earned them a first round bye week in the playoffs. They are in the middle of a seven-game winning streak and are playing the best football they’ve played all season. Aside from their loss, they have yet to score less than 34 points all season. Their last game of the regular season was a 44-19 win over Poplar Bluff.
The rushing attack reigned supreme in that game just as it has all year. Jaxin Patterson carried the ball a whopping 37 times for 289 yards and a touchdown while Austin Romaine racked up 21 carries for 145 yards and scored two touchdowns. Griffin Ray found the end zone twice with his feet as well in the game. Hillsboro’s defense also forced Poplar Bluff to turn the ball over three times.
Festus comes into this one fresh off a 48-6 blowout win over Sikeston. They are 6-4 on the season so far and have won their last two games in a row. Cole Rickermann, Kaian Roberts-Day, Arhmad Branch and company will be prepared to avenge their loss to the Hawks earlier this season.
These two sides matched up way back in week five of the season and it was a barn-burner to say the least. It was a game that brought both communities to Hillsboro on a Friday night and came down to the final few plays. Each side wrestled for the lead throughout the game, but it wasn’t until the Hillsboro defense stripped Rickermann in the red zone in the final seconds that the Hawks were able to secure the victory.
These games always come with high intensity. Now add in the fact that both sides have their season on the line. You’re not going to want to miss when the Tigers travel to Hillsboro on Friday, November 5th for their final meeting of the season.
Good luck Hawks.
