
Bryce McKinney runs the ball for Gillespie.
It looked like Gillespie (2-3) was going to snap their two-game losing streak last Friday night in Hillsboro after taking a 12-0 lead, but then the tide turned in Hillsboro’s homecoming football game and the Toppers (4-1) held the Miners scoreless the rest of the game while scoring 26 points of their own to give Gillespie their third straight loss, 12-26.
After kicking off to start the game, Gillespie took over possession after forcing a Hillsboro fumble 10 yards away form the end zone on their opening drive of the game. The Miners used the escape to score the game’s first touchdown after Bryce McKinney and Bobby Carr each had large runs – McKinney for a 29-yard rush and Carr on a 45-yard rush. After the missed extra point kick, Gillespie led 6-0 after seven minutes of play.
Gillespie’s lead improved in the second quarter after covering nearly 80 offensive yards on their next drive. Quarterback Tate Wargo found Bryce McKinney wide open for a 35-yard completion putting the Miners 15 yards away from the end zone. After a couple rushing plays combined for a first down, Gillespie turned to a passing play and Wargo found Myers open for a 5-yard touchdown reception giving the Miners a 12-0 lead after the failed conversion.
Hillsboro returned the touchdown favor in their third drive of the game after covering 62 offensive yards and after overcoming a fourth down and 1 play, the Toppers quarterback Mitch Reynolds escaped on a 9-yard scamper to trim the deficit to 12-6 with four minutes left before halftime.
The Miners have had their best week of practices this week, according to head coach Don Dobrino
The Miners didn’t give themselves much opportunity after Hillsboro’s Dillon Civitate intercepted Wargo with 3:03 remaining in the second quarter. The Toppers possession lasted two minutes before they ended the half by punting on fourth down and 10.

Keagan West doesn’t let his opponent get away from him as he snags his jersey near the line of scrimmage.
Despite leading 12-6 at halftime, Gillespie’s lead was overtaken within two minutes of the third quarter after Hillsboro broke away and gained 51 yards on the ground before being stopped three yards away from the end zone. The Toppers jumped over a pile of Miners on the next play tying the game at 12 before kicking the extra point to put Gillespie behind 12-13.
Gillespie’s situation continued to worsen throughout the remainder of the second half after their next two drives each resulted in a turnover and Hillsboro used each one to add another touchdown to their side of the scoreboard building a 14-point lead over the Miners, 12-26.
The Miners had seven minutes remaining in the game to draw up a comeback, but then lost Bobby Carr who is a contributing force on offense as a receiver. Carr was injured during Hillsboro’s 5-yard touchdown run and was transported off the field by an ambulance following a 15-minute delay. When play resumed, Hillsboro’s two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
Hillsboro then forced a fumble on the next Miners’ drive, but then punted it away three downs later with 2:50 remaining in the game. Gillespie’s final drive of the game was ignited with a 44-yard completion from quarterback Daniel Dobrino to Bryce McKinney, but then the final seconds rolled off the clock after a pair of sacks.
The Miners (2-3) have had their best week of practices this week, according to head coach Don Dobrino, and are prepared for a victory over Carlinville (3-2) this evening in their homecoming to snap the three-game losing streak. Carlinville is entering the match-up after a marginal win over Staunton last week.
Carr was diagnosed with a concussion and is participating in a strict regime under constant watch by medical professionals to hopefully be back on the playing field this season.
Around the South Central Conference
- Pana (5-0) blanked Southwestern (2-3) last week, 28-0
- Carlinville (3-2) walloped Staunton (0-5), 59-12
- Litchfield (3-2) edged Vandalia (2-3), 12-7
- Roxana (3-2) beat Greenville (1-4), 49-36
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