Carey edges Hillsdale in brilliant defensive duel

WILLARD — Hillsdale’s improbable run to the Sweet 16 reached an end on Friday night, but not before a gallant defensive effort.

The Falcons were simply unable to muster enough offense to match a brilliant defensive performance in falling 7-0 to Carey amid frigid conditions in the Division VI, Region 22 semifinal at Willard High School.

“No one thought we would be here, but our kids expected to be here,” Hillsdale coach Trevor Cline said. “I’m extremely proud of our guys.”

The Falcons (8-4) were simply outgunned.

Starting quarterback Caden Mutchler suffered a season-ending injury in Week 7. So, junior linebacker Ty Williams, the team’s leading tackler, took over the job. He engineered a 15-8 win over Waynedale in Week 10 to clinch the program’s eighth playoff berth, all since 2009. Then he facilitated a remarkable fourth-quarter comeback in last week’s 25-21 win at Northmor in the opening round.

But on Friday night an ankle injury rendered Williams ineffective. He gutted it out in the first half as the Falcons battled to a scoreless tie, but eventually had to be sidelined for a series in the third quarter.

Hillsdale survived to that point thanks to a resilient defensive effort, forging a 0-0 deadlock that stayed scoreless until Carey (7-5) finally broke through on Conner Williams’ 1-yard TD plunge with just 2:05 remaining in the game. That clutch, fourth-down score capped a 14-play, 51-yard drive that ate up 6:09 of the final period. Even that final blast barely broke the plane of the goal line.

“I just knew our O-line was going to get me in,” Conner Williams said. “I got stood up, and then I started to spin and I felt a big old tug on the back of my jersey and (quarterback) Ethan Beringer shoved me in.”

It was fitting that Beringer had a hand, literally, on the final play. He was virtually the only player on either side that produced any semblance of offense.

The senior signal-caller completed 7 of 15 passes for 113 yards and added 77 yards rushing on 19 carries. He had 180 of his team’s 286 yards of total offense.

“We were definitely giving the ball to a senior,” Carey coach Jonathon Mershman said  of the lone score. “It was either going to be (Beringer) outside or (Williams) up the middle depending on their alignment.

“If you can’t trust a senior by now, you never can.”

The Falcons got the ball back one last time, but an interception sealed their fate.

“When you have your quarterback battling an ankle, it affects what you can do,” Cline said.

Carey’s suffocating defense took full advantage. The Falcons had just four first downs (to 16 for the Blue Devils), 84 yards total offense, 32 yards rushing on 18 carries, three pass completions for 52 yards, while suffering a pair of interceptions.

It was particularly difficult in the second half. Hillsdale had just 15 snaps after intermission (and two of those were punt) with no first downs, minus-3 yards rushing, 0-of-6 passing and both turnovers. In fact, Cline’s club had the ball for just 3:18 of the second half.

“Our defense really stepped up tonight and played well for four quarters,” Mershman said. “They were run-gap sound.”

Still, Hillsdale’s defense was brilliant, too. On the field for the majority of the night, the Falcons stopped Carey on a fourth-and-1 at their own 5 late in the second period. The Blue Devils were turned away again in the fourth quarter when a 37-yard field goal hit the crossbar.

“They moved the ball, but when we had to stop them, we did,” Cline said. “(On the TD), we stood him up, but he spun off it.” 

The Falcons bid adieu to 11 seniors, but the underclassmen gained a ton of experience in a season Cline termed as fun. Seven of Hillsdale’s 12 games were decided by seven points or less. The Falcons went 4-3 in those games.

“It shows the amount of heart our kids have,” Cline said.

Carey advances to play East Knox (12-0) for the regional championship next week. The Bulldogs rallied to stun Seneca East 21-20 on Friday night at Marion Harding.