WEST LAFAYETTE — Jesse Trevathan never doubted he would return, even during his darkest days.
And there were plenty of dark days.
Trevathan tore the ACL in his right knee during Hillsdale’s run to the Division VII state championship game last year. He suffered the injury in Week 12 and spent the final four weeks of the playoffs watching from the sidelines on crutches.
“It was devastating,” Trevathan said. “It sucked not being out there with my team.”
Months of rehab followed, but the linebacker never wavered.
“I busted my butt and my teammates were there to help me,” Trevathan said. “I got back in time for my senior year.”
He’s made the most of it.
Trevathan’s interception with just over two minutes remaining helped secure top-seeded Hillsdale’s 25-20 win over underdog Danville in Friday’s Division VII, Region 27 championship game at rain-swept Ridgewood Generals Stadium.
The Falcons (12-1) will play Region 25 winner McDonald (13-0) in the state semifinals at a site to be determined. McDonald beat Mogadore 42-21.
Danville (8-6) was the Cinderella story of the Division VII draw. The Blue Devils were the 11th-seeded team in the region, but won three straight road playoff games to reach the title tilt.
Coach Matt Blum’s squad took possession of the ball at its own 20-yard line with 2:20 remaining in the game. On first down, freshman quarterback Parker Proper’s screen pass intended for Aidan Mickley was bobbled momentarily, allowing Trevathan to wrestle the ball away as he tumbled to the turf with Mickley.
“I told Brock (Bower) that the screen was coming,” Trevathan said. “He was juggling it and when we hit the ground we were just fighting for the ball.”
Blum’s vantage point, Mickley and Trevathan possessed the ball simultaneously as they hit the ground. Mutual possession goes to the offense.
“The game did not come down to that. I’m not saying it did,” Blum said. “But to make that call in that moment, that was outrageous. They tried to explain that the defender took the ball. I don’t know how he could see it.
“It is what it is. The game did not come down to that one play. It just stings our offense didn’t get that last opportunity.”
First-half fireworks
The Falcons scored on their first two possessions and opened a 13-0 first-quarter lead. Owen Sloan broke loose for a 26-yard touchdown run on a 4th-and-one snap.
On Hillsdale’s next possession, quarterback Kael Lewis hooked up with Hayden McFadden on a 25-yard touchdown pass.
Danville responded early in the second thanks to a highlight-reel run by Cyren Wallace. The sophomore spun away from a would-be tackler a couple of yards from the line of scrimmage and sped away for a 49-yard TD to make it 13-6.
Hillsdale responded immediately on Sloan’s 3-yard touchdown run with 6:48 to play in the half to open a 19-6 margin.
Danville cut it to 19-13 when Wallace hauled in a 10-yard pass from Proper with 1:21 showing in the second quarter.
Hillsdale drove the length of the field and had the ball first-and-goal at the 3 with three seconds remaining, but the Danville defense held and the Falcons took the 19-13 edge to intermission.
“We knew it was going to be a battle,” Hillsdale coach Trevor Cline said. “It’s a regional championship. It should be a close game.”
Second-half stalemate
Danville took the lead early in the third quarter thanks to some nifty footwork by Wesley Payne. The senior hauled in a 20-yard pass from Proper and toe-tapped in the front corner of the end zone to give the Blue Devils their first lead at 20-19.
Hillsdale answered immediately when Sloan scored on what turned out to be the game-winning 1-yard plunge for a 25-20 advantage.
Sloan had a monster night, rushing for 205 yards and three touchdowns in the driving rain.
“We knew the weather might be a factor so we wanted to establish the run,” Sloan said. “Danville is a great team and a great program and we knew they would give us a battle.”
Historic Class
Danville’s seven seniors reached the regional championship game in all four seasons.
“Our senior class, that was their 57th career game,” Blum said. “They’ve won 13 playoff games in their careers. They were regional runner-up three times and made it to the Final Four.
“They have a lot to be proud of.”
