TIFFIN -- Patrick Henry football coach Bill Inselmann said Jeromesville Hilldale had him worried coming into Friday's Division V, Region 18 semifinal at Frost-Kalnow Stadium.
"We were very concerned about their passing game," Inselmann said. "We didn't think we matched up well outside with their receivers."
Inselmann's worries proved unfounded as Patrick Henry (12-0) scored early and often to defeat Hillsale (9-3) 40-19. Patrick Henry advanced to play at 7:30 p.m. Friday against Tinora (11-1) at a site to be determined. Tinora defeated Lima Central Catholic 24-14 Friday.
"We thought we could get some pressure on the quarterback," Inselmann said. "Our thought was, you can't throw if you're on your back."
Patrick Henry's defensive line was on Hillsdale quarterback Dylan Kingan all game long. Kingan did throw a 44-yard touchdown on the game's final play, but he was intercepted four times and was 10 of 22 passing for 136 yards.
"It all comes down to line play," Inselmann said. "We put pressure on their quarterback."
Patrick Henry scored on its first five possessions.
Seniors Justin Buenger and Luke George ran wild, as Buenger rushed for 132 yards and three touchdowns in the first half and George added 10 rushes for 94 and a touchdown. George also passed for 108 first-half yards and a touchdown.
Inselmann said scoring early knocked some of the starch out of the Falcons.
"The early score was important," he said of the Patriots' 65-yard opening touchdown drive. "But what I thought was important was that we followed that up with a second and third score.
"That takes you out of your game plan as an offensive coordinator because you've worked all week on what you want to run and we took them out of it."
Buenger opened the game by carrying five times in the six-play drive. He scored on a 37-yard run right up the middle. After a Hilldale punt, Luke George connected with Aaron George on an 8-yard pass to cap an eight-play, 56-yard scoring drive.
Another Hillsdale punt followed and Buenger scored again on a 1-yard run with 1:18 left in the first quarter and the rout was on.
"They do everything well. Their line is solid, and of course their backs are great," Hillsdale coach Tom Williams said. "They might be the best team we've played since I've been at Hilldale. They're certainly the fastest team we've seen."
Buenger said the offensive line came through in spades for the Patriots.
"We've had success running to the strong side all season," he said. "The guys stay on their blocks and they push the defense downfield."
Buenger finished with 159 yards on 23 carries. He now has 1,732 yards this season and broke the single-season rushing record he set last year. He also holds the Patrick Henry career mark with 3,527 yards.
"When you're an all-time leading rusher you've done a great job, No. 1., with your work ethic," Inselmann said. "He's not the biggest back, he's not the fastest back. But above all, he reads blocks very well and he's done a great job getting better at getting yards after contact."
Luke George and Buenger scored on runs on 14 and 3 yards, respectively, in the second quarter to give the Patriots a 35-0 halftime lead. George added a 6-yard run in the fourth quarter before Hillsdale reeled off 19 points against the Patrick Henry reserves and special teams.
"Our No. 1 defense didn't give up any points and we're really proud of that," Inselmann said.
George ended the game with 117 yards rushing on 14 carries and was 8-of-11 passing for 123 yards. He also intercepted two passes on defense.
Hillsdale 0 0 0 19 -- 19
Patrick Henry 21 14 0 7 -- 42
First Quarter
PH -- Buenger 37 run (Creager kick)
PH -- A. George 8 pass from L. George (Creager kick)
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