LANCASTER – Fisher Catholic’s defense did everything it could to try and slow down and contain Crooksville quarterback Brayson Hill, and while the Irish kept him somewhat bottled up in the first half, they couldn’t do it for the entire game.
Hill, only a sophomore, was the difference-maker. Fisher Catholic didn’t have an answer for him as the Ceramics wore the Irish down in the second half and pulled away for a 36-0 nonconference victory Saturday night at Fulton Field.
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The Irish defense was outstanding in the first two quarters, but they didn’t get any help from their offense, which finished with only 27 total yards, including minus 7 yards on the ground. The offense continually went three-and-out, and eventually, it took its toll as Hill made play after play.
“In the first half, we played well, but we made a lot of mistakes, and we were only down 12-0,” Fisher Catholic coach Luke Thimmes said. “Our defense is light years better than they were last year. They are tough and aggressive. We need to get the offense to do that too, we need some work. We had a lot of offensive possessions, but the offense is not up to our standards and expectations.”
The Ceramics took an early 6-0 lead and pushed it to 12-0 on the play of the first quarter when Hunter Hurst intercepted a swing pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown. The Irish’s lone chance to score came late in the first quarter.
After a snap went over the Crooksville punter’s head, the Irish had the ball at the 12-yard line. Four plays later, they were facing a fourth-and-one at the 3-yard line but were stopped short.
Hill was unstoppable
Hill was a one-man wrecking crew for the Ceramics. He accounted for 279 total yards and five touchdowns. He completed 12 of 23 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 145 yards on 12 carries and three more scores.
He was hard to stop because of the way he could throw the ball and was elusive on the ground, with many of his yards coming after a play would break down.
“The game plan was we knew we had to bottle him up and get him on the ground,” Thimmes said. He is elusive and we were there, but he was able to get out of our grasp.”
Hill threw touchdown passes of 18 and 23 yards in the third quarter, and after his first-quarter rushing touchdown, he scored on 13 and 5-yard runs in the fourth quarter.
Hill was emotional after the game.
“We haven’t had a road win in four years, and I just wanted to bring these seniors a road win,” Hill said. “This is everything to me. This is my life. I put my blood, sweat, and tears in this game, and to come out here and give our seniors their first road win means a lot to me.
“I try to make things happen when there is nothing there. I try my hardest every single play. I play every play like it’s my last, and no matter if something breaks down, I am always locked in and focused. As the game went along, I gained more confidence and was dialed in.”
Hill started a year ago as a freshman and first-year Crooksville coach Nate Van Meter Hill does a great job as a leader even though he is only a sophomore.
“Brayson Hill is a special athlete," Van Meter said. “He is versatile, and he brings a level of leadership for a young guy that you don’t always see. His strive to be the best he can be is impressive and I’ve not seen that out of a young kid. There is a lot of young kids that want to play, but he works nonstop. He is a dog in the weight room, on the field, and in the classroom. His ability to stretch the field is outstanding.
“He is vocal for a young guy and that type of leadership is contagious. I am excited to see his growth. He made some mistakes tonight, but he is on to the next play and handles himself well. his ability to stretch the field is outstanding.”
Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @twil2323.
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Difference-maker: Fisher Catholic can’t contain Crooksville QB who accounts for five TDs
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