Hat Trick: OSU pledge Miller fires 3 TD passes to send Ontario past Centerburg

Senior quarterback Bodpegn Miller throws three touchdown passes in fourth quarter Friday

by Hayden Gray August 31, 2024September 3, 2024

ONTARIO — Bodpegn Miller didn’t throw his first touchdown pass until the fourth quarter Friday.

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound senior — bound for Ohio State next season — rocketed all three of his TD passes in the final quarter of Ontario’s 35-21 victory over Centerburg.

“We came out sloppy,” Miller said. “We’ve just got to be a full-game team and come out and start better.”

After heading to halftime tied 7-7 with the Trojans, Ontario found its groove— scoring 21 unanswered points to begin the second half.

The senior quarterback and defensive back said his team was more disciplined in its assignments during the game’s final 24 minutes.

“It all starts up front,” Miller said. “We’ve just got to do our jobs and not try to do too much.

“The rest will take care of itself, as we saw in the second half.”

Ontario quarterback Bodpegn Miller runs the ball Friday night in a non-conference game at home against Centerburg. Credit: Hayden Gray

Ontario overcomes first-half struggles

The Warriors’ offense stalled around the 10-yard line on its opening drive, followed by a failed 20-yard field goal attempt.

On the ensuing possession, Centerburg marched down the field and silenced the home crowd with a 9-yard passing TD from Blane Ball to Jackson Ballinger.

The Warriors responded three minutes later as Mason Vantilburg rolled in for an 18-yard score.

Neither team would score in the second quarter. The Warriors missed on a 24-yard field goal attempt and both Ball and Miller traded interceptions, leading to a 7-7 tie at the half.

Ontario coach Aaron Eckert said his squad made too many mistakes inside the red zone in Week Two.

“We put our defense in bad spots in that first half and they bailed us out,” he said. “Kind of a team win, but lots to work on for us.”

Fourth quarter frenzy

Ontario coach Aaron Eckert. Credit: Hayden Gray

Vantilburg found the end zone for a second time with nine minutes remaining in the third quarter, giving Ontario its first lead of the night 14-7.

Less than two minutes into the fourth quarter, Miller found Carter Waggoner for his first passing touchdown of the game. Five minutes later, he threw his second — a 20-yard strike to Grady Muncy.

Miller’s final TD pass came at the 2:30 mark, connecting with Clark Spearman for a 34-yard score.

The Trojans dented the scoreboard twice in the final 12 minutes via two passing TDs from Ball, but ultimately couldn’t slow down the Warriors.

Eckert said his team’s momentum continued to rise throughout the second half.

“The kids played really hard, we just had some mental lapses tonight that I think hurt us and made that a game at the end,” he said.

“Centerburg … they are a tough, gritty football team with tradition and they expect to win. They don’t care who they play and when you face a team like that, you’ve got to take opportunities when they’re given and tonight we let some of those slip away.”

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Friday’s loss a ‘confidence builder’ says Colella

Centerburg coach Andy Colella said the loss stings, but he’s proud of the way his team never folded.

“They played all the way to the end and I think they proved not only to themselves, but to everybody else that it’s going to be a tough out,” he said.

“It’s a confidence builder as long as they respond the correct way to it.”

The Trojans opened their season with a Week One victory at Utica. After its second week on the road, Centerburg will host Worthington Christian next Friday.

Colella said Week Three provides another opportunity for his club to improve early in the season.

“Everybody wants to win every game and we’re no different,” he said. “Stuff happens and you’ve got to learn, take the positives away from that and use that momentum moving forward.”