{"id":123993,"date":"2019-10-18T23:24:18","date_gmt":"2019-10-19T04:24:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevwindependent.com\/news\/?p=123993"},"modified":"2019-10-19T07:46:31","modified_gmt":"2019-10-19T12:46:31","slug":"hilleary-defense-lead-vw-past-elida-56-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/2019\/10\/18\/hilleary-defense-lead-vw-past-elida-56-23\/","title":{"rendered":"Hilleary, defense lead VW past Elida 56-23"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SCOTT TRUXELL\/<\/strong>independent sports editor<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELIDA — Jake Hilleary ran for three touchdowns, Owen Treece threw a pair of touchdown passes and the defense returned two interceptions for scores as Van Wert rolled to a 56-23 Western Buckeye League win over Elida at Kraft Stadium on Friday night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The win even Van Wert\u2019s overall record at 4-4 (3-4 WBL), while Elida dropped to 0-8 (0-7 WBL).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the two teams exchanged fumbles in the first quarter, Treece fired a 47-yard touchdown strike to Dru Johnson, and Peyton McAlpine kicked the first of eight PATs to give the Cougars a 7-0 lead with 6:50 left in the period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dru Johnson heads for the end zone after catching a pass from Owen Treece during the first quarter of Friday’s game against Elida.<\/strong> Bob Barnes\/Van Wert independent<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Elida answered with a 66-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Larkin Henderson to KeShawn Spivey, a score that left the game tied 7-7 at the end of the quarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jake Hilleary, who ran 20 times for 139 yards, plowed in from two yards out with 11:39 left in the second quarter, then Elida\u2019s Gunnar Kuhn kicked a 25-yard field goal to pull the Bulldogs to within four, 14-10 at the 7:44 mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen we give it to Jake good things are going to happen,\u201d Van Wert head coach Keith Recker said. \u201cWe ran away from No. 79 (Jordan Speller, 6-5, 315 defensive lineman) because he\u2019s a tough kid to get movement on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Hilleary\u2019s 11-yard touchdown run put the Cougars ahead 21-10, but again, Elida was able to answer with a 79-yard touchdown run by Marcel Poe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Van Wert gained some separation with two touchdowns before halftime. Hilleary again found paydirt, this time from eight yards out, then TJ Reynolds intercepted a Henderson pass and returned it 22 yards for a score, giving the Cougars a 35-17 lead, a score that stood at halftime. It was the second interception return for a touchdown by Reynolds this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTJ did a great job being in position and he\u2019s doing a nice job at that outside linebacker spot,\u201d Recker said. \u201cI\u2019m happy for him to get that touchdown.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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TJ Reynolds returns an interception for a touchdown against Elida. It was his second “pick six” of the season.<\/strong> Bob Barnes photo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Johnson ended Elida\u2019s opening drive of the third quarter with an interception and runback to the Bulldog five, then after a face mask penalty on Van Wert, the Cougars scored in three plays on an 11-yard Treece pass to Tanner Barnhart. Treece 11 of 17 for 154 yards and two touchdowns, with five of his completions going to Dru Johnson for 90 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cougars intercepted Elida quarterbacks four times – two thrown by Henderson and two more by Brandon Howard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After an exchange of punts, Parker Conrad intercepted a Brandon Howard pass and returned it untouched for a touchdown, giving Van Wert a 49-17 lead, which triggered the continuous clock rule with 4:26 left in the third quarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cParker\u2019s such a good player defensively,\u201d Recker said. \u201cFor him to get a big play, he deserves that and he did a nice job on it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each team scored once in the fourth quarter. Levi Newell ran 17 yards for a touchdown and Spivey sprinted 64 yards for an Elida score. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Van Wert will host Bath on Friday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scoring<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First quarter<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6:50 \u2013 Owen Treece 47 yard pass to Dru Johnson (Peyton McAlpine kick)
4:39 \u2013 Larkin Henderson 66 yard pass to KeShawn Spivey (Alec Ewing kick)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second quarter<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:49 \u2013 Jake Hilleary 2 yard run (Peyton McAlpine kick)
7:44 \u2013 Gunnar Kuhn 25 yard field goal
6:15 \u2013 Jake Hilleary 11 yard run (Peyton McAlpine kick)
5:55 \u2013 Marcel Poe 79 yard run (Gunnar Kuhn kick)
2:42 \u2013 Jake Hilleary 8 yard run (Peyton McAlpine kick)
2:08 \u2013 TJ Reynolds 44 yard interception return (Peyton McAlpine kick)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third quarter<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

8:35 \u2013 Owen Treece 9 yard pass to Tanner Barnhart (Peyton McAlpine kick)
4:26 \u2013 Parker Conrad 22 yard interception return (Peyton McAlpine kick)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourth quarter<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:25 \u2013 Levi Newell 17 yard run (Peyton McAlpine kick)
2:45 \u2013 KeShawn Spivey 64 yard run (pass failed)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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