Hillsboro relied on its running game and defense to win a showdown of unbeaten Metro powers.
The Burros scored all three of their touchdowns on running plays in Friday’s 20-14 homecoming victory over visiting McGavock.
The Raiders (4-1, 1-1 12-AAA) came away scoreless their last four possessions.
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“That’s big, big, big,” Hillsboro coach Craig Clayton said. “I think that will probably be the best team we’ll play in the regular season this year, hopefully anyway. The front end of our schedule was the toughest part, I thought, this year. We feel like we’ve got a shot at going 10-0.”
Hillsboro (5-0, 3-0) is off to its best start since 2006, when the Burros won their first 14 en route to a runner-up showing behind Maryville in Class 4A.
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“We just knew, in our opinion, we’re the best defense in the state, and we’re just not going to let anybody come in our house and tear us up like that,” Hillsboro defensive end Kyle Phillips said. “I’m proud of our defense, we have a great D-line. Our overall defense was great. We knew McGavock had a really good offense, and we knew we had to stop them.”
The Raiders scored at least 31 points in their first four games. Hillsboro is ranked fifth in Class 5A.
Hillsboro wide receiver Vincent Perry (13) is tackled by McGavock defensive lineman Isaiah Montgomery (74) after Perry pulled in a pass reception during the first quarter Friday.
McGavock quarterback Demontez Carlton tied the score at 14 on a 1-yard run on the first possession of the second half.
Hillsboro’s De’Andre Alexander scored what proved to be the winning touchdown on a 23-yard run with 3:26 left in the third.
“I just did what I could for my team,” Alexander said. “I knew we were gunned down. The offense wasn’t doing anything so I had to get my team up.”
Hillsboro running back Vincent Perry, who has an offer from Kentucky, rushed for 93 yards and one TD on 15 carries.
“I hate moral victories, but it was good for our kids to be in a tight game,” Raiders coach Jay Gore said. “That’s the first time they’ve been behind all year.”
Alexander’s 13-yard touchdown run gave Hillsboro a 7-0 lead with 39 seconds left in the first quarter.
McGavock made it 7-all when Kyle Harrison caught a 9-yard TD pass from Carlton on fourth-and-1 with 8:08 left in the first half.
The Burros recovered a muffed punt by Chris Claybrooks at the McGavock 9, setting up Hillsboro’s second TD.
One play later, Perry scored on a 9-yard run, giving the Burros a 14-7 lead with 4:14 left in the first half.
